CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monograplis) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographles) 


n 


Canadian  InstHuM  for  Hiatorieal  Mtcronproduettom  /  InitHut  Canadian  da  mieroraproduetlani  Mstork|uaa 


©1995 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  technique  et  bibtiographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  l>est  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographicaiiy  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checl<ed  below. 


Q- 


Coloured  coveis  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I  Coveis  damaged  / 

' — I  Couverture  endommagte 

I     I  Covers  lestored  and/or  laminated  / 

' — '  Couverture  lestauree  et/ou  pellicuiee 

I     I  Cover  title  missing /Letitrede  couverture  manque 

I     I  Coloured  maps/ Cartes  gtegraphiques  en  couleur 

I     I  Cokxjied  ink  (i.e.  other  ttian  lilue  or  black)  / 

Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I     I  Cokxjred  plates  and/or  Wustratkins  / 

' — '  Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

I     I  Bound  with  other  material  / 

' — '  Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


D 
D 


D 


Only  edition  available  / 
Seule  Mitkm  disponibte 

Tight  binding  may  cause  sliadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serrie  peut 
causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorekm  le  long  de 
la  marge  interieuie. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoialkxis  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  timing  /  II  se  peut  que  ceitaines 
pages  blanches  ajouttes  tots  d'une  restauration 
appaiaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  k>fsque  cela  etait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  eie  timiss. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  examplaiie  qu'il  lui  a 
6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
piaite  qui  sont  peut-Mre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modifications  dans  la  m6th- 
ode  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiquto  ci-dessous. 

I     I     Cokiured  pages/ Pages  de  couleur 

I     I      Pages  damaged/ Pages  endommagies 

I     I      Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
' — '      Pages  restauiees  et/ou  pelleuMes 

r~l/  Pages  discokxjred,  stained  or  foxed  / 
^^^      Pages  d«cok)f«es,tacheteesoupk|utes 

I     I      Pages  detached/ Pages detachtes 

l^y    Showlhrough/ Transparence 

I     I     Quality  of  print  varies/ 

' — '     Qualiti  inigale  de  I'impiBssnn 

I     I      Includes  supplementary  matsriaJ  / 
— '     Comprenddu  materiel  suppWmentaire 

I  I  Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
— '  slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image  /  Les  pages 
totalement  ou  partiellement  obscurcies  par  un 
feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure,  etc.,  ont  M  filmees 
i  nouveau  de  fafon  k  obtenir  la  mellleure 
image  possible. 

I  I  Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
' — '  discotourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the 
best  possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant 
ayant  des  colorations  vaiialiles  ou  des  dteol- 
orattons  sont  filmees  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la 
meilleur  image  possible. 


I     I      Addtkinal  comments/ 

' — '      Commsnlairessuppiemenlalras: 


Thii  itam  ii  f ihiMd  n  tiM  raduetion  ratio  chaekad  taalow/ 

Ca  documant  ait  filnrf  au  tau>  da  rMuctien  Mtqut  ci-daasmn. 

10X  14X  MX 


ax 


30X 


1fX 


20X 


Tha  eepv  filmad  h«r*  haa  baan  rapraduead  thanka 
to  tha  ganareaity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'aHamplaira  film*  fut  rapreduii  grtca  t  la 
0*n4roait*  da: 

Blbllothi^ia  natlonala  du  Canada 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
peaalbia  eonaWaring  tha  condition  and  lagibiiity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  In  kaoping  with  tha 
filming  eontraet  apacif  icationa. 


La*  imagaa  auivaniaa  ont  M  raproduitai  avac  la 
plua  grand  loln,  eompta  lanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nanatd  da  rasamplaira  filmi,  at  an 
eonformitd  avac  laa  eonditlena  du  contrat  da 
fllmaga. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  eavara  ara  fUmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  eovar  and  anding  on 
tha  iaat  paga  with  a  printad  or  llluatratad  impraa- 
aion,  or  tha  bacli  covar  whan  appropriata.  Ail 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
firat  paga  wKh  a  printad  or  llluatratad  impraa- 
aion.  and  anding  on  tha  iaat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iiluawatad  impraaaion. 


Tha  Iaat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microflcha 
ahall  conuin  tha  lymbol  —» (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymboi  V  (moaning  "END"), 
wtiiehavar  appliaa. 

Mapa,  plataa,  chart*,  ate.  may  bo  fllmod  at 
diffaram  raduction  ratioa.  Thoao  too  iarga  to  bo 
ontlraly  Ineludad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  loft  hand  eomor.  iaft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  frama*  a* 
roquirad.  Tha  following  diagram*  iiluatrata  tha 
mathed: 


laa  aaamplairaa  orlglnaua  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  imprimOa  *ont  fiimd*  an  eemmancani 
par  la  pramlar  plat  at  an  tarminani  loit  par  la 
darniOra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'Impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration,  (Oit  par  la  sacond 
piat,  aalon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autra*  aiampiairai 
originaux  aont  fiimda  an  commancant  par  la 
pramidra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'Impraaaion  ou  d'iiluatration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  damidra  paga  qui  comporta  una  lalla 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  aymboiaa  auivant*  tpparaitra  uir  la 
damldra  imaga  da  chaqua  microfiche,  lalon  la 
caa:  la  aymboia  —^  aignifia  "A  SUiVRE".  la 
aymboio  ▼  *ignifio  "FIN". 

Laa  eartaa,  planchaa.  ubiaaui.  ate.  pauwant  iira 
filmda  d  daa  uua  da  rdduction  diffdrann. 
Loraqua  la  documant  aat  trap  grand  pour  dtra 
raproduit  an  un  laui  clichd.  11  a*t  film*  *  partir 
da  I'angla  (updriaur  gaucha.  da  gaucha  d  droita. 
at  da  haut  an  baa.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'Imagaa  ndcaaaair*.  Laa  diagrammaa  auivant* 
illuatrant  ia  mdthodo. 


1 

2 

3 

6 


on  maunioN  mi  cha 

U  ond  ISO  nsT  CHAKT  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


lis    120 


R^l^i£ 


/IPPLED  IM/Gg 


J'H)  «i  -  OJoo  -  PM.L 


A  REVIEW  DF  APPLIED  ENTOMOLOGY  IN  THE 
BRITISH  EMPIRE 


C,  Gordon  Hhwitt,  D.  Sc,  F.  R.  S.  C, 
DomioioQ  I^ntomologitt,  Ottawa,  CaaadA. 


The  Annual  Address  to  the  EntomoloKical  Society  of  America,  delivertd  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  on  December  L'yth,  11(15. 


&RPRINTSD  FROM 

ANNALS  OF  THE  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA 

Volume  IX,  No.  i,  March,  1916 


/"^  / 


Ct  .    /    iy     . 


A  UVBW  or  AFPUSD  BRTOMOLOOT  IN  TBB  BSITISH 


By  C.  OouoK  HlwilT,  D.  8c.,  F.  R.  8.  C, 
Daminlon  Bfltcmologist,  Otum,  C«iuid«. 


CONTBNTS. 


PACB 

I 


BritiihltlM , 

Imperiml  Biutui  d  Batomology I 

l^laod ....'.,  5 

Scotiud !!!!!!!!!!!!,'!!!!!!!!' « 

Intead ? 

Africm --  7 

Union  at  Soath  Africa 7 

RhodMia *  ia 

Britiah  But  Africa !....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  i  |  Jj 

Sudan \ !!!!'.!*!'.! 14 

Britiah Wnt Africa I!!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!::  M 

Australia "  u 

New  South  WalM iS 

Victoria "17 

South  Anitralia 17 

Quccatland I7 

Tamania Ig 

WartaniAnWralia u 

Northern  Tetritory 18 

[!1  18 

W 


Ceykn 

Fiji .-. _ 

India ;;;;;;;  31 

NewZealaad *  30 

Britidi  Wot  IndiM !!!]]!!!  81 

Other  Imperial  Entomological  Work H 


The  Amnal  Addreu  to  the  Bntomolofical  Society  of  Anicn..a,  delirend  at 
Columbna,  Ohio,  on  December  Wth,  WUt. 


A  HHols  Entomological  Socitty  of  America     (Vol.  IX, 


In  the  ael^tion  of  the  (ubject  of  my  addreu  I  had  u  my 
main  motive  the  bringing  of  the  entomologists  of  this  country 
into  closer  touch  with  a  large  body  of  entomologists  who  are 
studying  an  infinite  variety  of  problems  in  those  widespread 
territories  of  the  earth's  surface  that  together  constitute  the 
British  Empire.  This  more  intimate  ac  .wintance  is  desirable 
for  many  reasons,  but  I  will  refer  only  to  two  of  them.  Pint, 
our  Society  recently  decided  to  extend  its  membership  outside 
the  confines  of  North  America  and  as  a  result  a  number  of 
British  workers,  which  number  I  am  confident  will  increase, 
have  been  included  on  our  membership  rolls;  I  wish  to  introduce 
these  members  and  some  of  their  problems  to  you  Secondly, 
it  is  becoming  increasingly  apparent  that  the  control  of  insect 
pests  and  the  successful  prosecution  of  entomological  investiga- 
tion, be  it  along  practical  or  purely  scientific  lines,  must  be 
along  international  lines.  Our  expenence,  especially  during 
recent  years,  has  clearly  demonstrated  this  fact,  particularly 
in  regard  to  the  control  of  insects  by  thei'  nctural  enemies. 
Prom  the  time  w.'ien  Koebele  visited  Australia  in  1885  and 
brought  the  now  f  'mous  CoccinetUd  Norius  cardinalis  to  save 
the  citrus  groves  of  California  from  destruction  up  to  the 
recent  world  tour  of  Silvestri  in  search  of  parasites  of  the  fniit- 
flies,  we  have  had  repeated  instances  of  the  incalcula'  .  ralue 
of  international  co-operation;  but  it  would  involve  too  great 
a  digression  to  mention  even  the  more  important  of  thei^. 
In  this  line  of  investigation  alone  there  lie  immense  possibilities 
which  will  be  made  more  easy  of  realization  to  the  benefit 
of  all  concerned  by  a  more  intimate  knowledge  of  other  workers 
and  their  problems  in  other  parts  of  the  W"r<d.  Such  a  review 
as  I  propose  to  give  will,  I  feel  confident,  shu  '  clearly  how  the 
British  Empire  by  its  widespread  character  and  diversity  of 
conditions  of  every  land,  criBCers  an  unequalled  opportunity 
(or  international  co-operative  effort,  particularly  to  the  Ento- 
mologists of  the  United  States.  The  establishment  of  a  chain 
of  workers  in  all  the  continents  which  would  result  from  such 
co-operation  would  have  beneficial  results  of  the  most  far 
reaching  character  on  the  entomol'  ical  work  of  the  future. 
If  I  am  able  to  further  the  object  to  which  I  have  referred, 
I  shall  consider  that  the  time  I  am  about  to  take  up  has  indeed 
been  well  spent. 


19101 


Entomoloty  in  Ike  British  Empire 


3 


The  countries  that  enjoy  the  benefits  of  British  forms  of 
government  comprise  territories  from  equatorial  to  arctic  and 
antarctic  latitudes;  they  include  some  of  the  most  worthless  and 
barren  regions  of  the  wot  Id's  surface  and  some  of  the  richest 
and  moat  fertile.  Consequently  we  find  every  type  of  vegeta- 
tion, every  kind  of  crop  and  every  form  of  insect  life  to  which 
such  vegetation  or  crop  may  serve  as  sustenance.  In  addition 
there  are  fe  v  types  of  insect-borne  disease  that  are  not  found 
somewhere  within  British  domains.  It  will  not  be  possible, 
therefore,  to  do  more  than  briefly  juch  upon  the  more  out- 
standing features  of  the  work  that  is  being  carried  on  in  those 
countries  by  an  ever  increasing  body  of  highly  trained  and 
enthusiastic  workers.  And  here  I  would  remind  you  that  it  is 
one  of  the  chief  characteristics  of  the  British  entomologist 
that  he  usually  follows  his  profession  on  account  of  his  enthus- 
iasm for  the  subject,  and  in  spite  of  the  remuneration  that  he 
receives  and  the  natural  difficulties  with  which  he  has  to 
contend. 

British  Isles. 
The  Imperial  Bureau  of  Entomntoty— The  formation  of  the 
Imperial  Bureau  of  Entomology  in  1913  was  the  outcome  of  an 
effort  made  a  few  years  earlier  to  further  entomological  investi- 
gations in  the  British  possessions  in  tropical  Africa.  Early 
in  1S09  Dr.  A.  E.  Shipley,  Master  of  Christ's  College,  Cambridge, 
drew  up  a  memorandtmi.  with  some  slight  assistance  from  me, 
for  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  Lord  Cre»e,  and  as  a 
result  of  tliis  a  y.iittins  iti  called  in  March,  1909,  to  discuss 
the  formation  of  an  er.  nological  research  commit  cee  for  the 
stuty  of  entomological  .problems,  particularly  those  relating 
to  tropical  diseases,  in  r,r..<iical  A&ica.  Such  a  committee  was 
formed  that  year  and  it  uded  th^-  chief  experts  in  entomology 
and  tropical  medicine  '       Britain  and  Ireland,  with  Lord 

Cromer  as  Chairman  ♦irk  fell  under  three  divisions, 

namely,  the  -arrying  i.  investigations  and  entomr'  )gical 

surveys  in  tropical  Africa,  i  r  the  purpose  of  which  two  travelling 
entomologists,  Mr.  S.  A.  N.  ive  and  Dr.  J.  J.  Simpson,  to  whose 
work  reference  will  be  mad<  ter,  were  employed;  the  determi- 
nation of  entomological  ma  -ial,  and  the  publication  of  the 
work  so  accomplished,  for  wt  »  purpose  th*-  Bulletin  of  Ento- 
mological Research  was  started   t«  *  quar!.erly  journal. 


Annals  Entomological  Society  of  America     (Vol.  IX, 


The  valuable  service  rendfred  by  thii  committee  loon  led 
to  an  enlargement  of  itt  icope.  After  a  consideration  of  the 
matter  by  the  wif-goveming  dominions,  and  a  conference  o' 
the  committee  and  of  the  entomologists  of  some  of  the  domin- 
ions and  colonies  in  1012,  a  scheme  for  imperial  co-operation  in 
preventing  the  spread  and  furthering  the  investigation  ot  nox- 
ious insects  was  worked  out.  This  conference  put  forward  a 
proposal  for  the  establishment  of  an  Imperial  Bureau  of  Ento- 
mology, to  be  financially  supported  by  the  variou!i  dominions 
and  colonies  and  the  British  government.  The  heme  was 
adopted  by  the  various  self-governing  dominions  and  colonies 
which  were  invited  to  co-operate  and  contribute  to  the  main- 
tenance of  the  Bureau,  and  the  crown  colonies  and  British 
protectorates  are  also  participating  i  he  advantages  of  the 
Imperial  Bureau  of  Entomology  which  was  established  in  1913 
with  headquarters  in  London.  The  former  Entomological 
Research  Committee  ha>.  become  the  Honorary  Committee  of 
Management  on  which  committee  the  government  entomolo- 
gists of  the  dominions  are  also  members.  The  Rt.  Hon.  Lewis 
Harcourt,  former  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonie  is  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  and  Dr.  Guy  A.  K.  Marshal'  Director 
of  the  Bureau  and  Editor  of  its  journals. 

The  functions  of  the  Bureau  are  as  follows: 

1.  The  collection  and  co-o/dination  of  information  concern- 
ing the  noxious  insects  of  the  world  so  that  any  British  country 
may  learn  by  enquiry  what  insect  pests  it  is  likely  to  import 
from  other  countries  and  the  best  methods  of  preventing  their 
introduction  and  spread. 

2.  The  authoritative  identification  of  insects  of  economic 
importance  submitted  by  the  officials  of  the  Departments  of 
Agriculture  and  Public  Health  throughout  the  Empire. 

3.  The  publication  monthly  of  the  Review  of  Applied 
Entomology  in  which  concise  summaries  or  abstracts  are  given 
of  all  the  current  literature  which  has  a  practical  bearing  on  the 
investigation  and  control  of  noxious  insects. 

4.  The  investigation  of  blood-sucking  insects,  particularly 
in  Africa.  At  present  all  the  field  staf!  are  engaged  in  studying 
the  bionomics  of  the  various  species  of  Glossina;  the  special 
object  of  their  investigations  is  to  endeavour  to  devise  some 
practical  means  of  reducing  the  numbers  of  or  eradicating  these 


lOMQ 


Entomoloty  in  the  British  Empire 


carrien  of  the  different  types  of  Trypanosomes.  The  men 
engage'*  'n  this  work  are  Mr.  W.  P.  Piake  and  Dr.  G.  ,").  H. 
Carpen.  ,  in  Uganda,  Dr.  W.  A.  Lambom  in  Nyaialand  and 
Dr.  J.  J.  Simpeon  in  the  Gold  Coast. 

The  work  of  the  Bureau  is  wholly  different  from  that  of  the 
United  States  Bureau  of  Entomology.  Its  primary  function 
is  that  of  an  intelligence  bureau,  a  clearing  house  for  entomo- 
logical information,  collecting  such  information  for  the  use  of 
the  British  countries  supporting  it.  It  has  already  accomplished 
a  large  amount  of  sefai  work  and  has  been  of  particular 
assistance  to  those  isolated  and  scattered  British  territories 
where  the  entomologists  and  medical  officers  suffer  from  lack 
of  museums,  libraries  and  co-workers  which  they  would  wish 
to  constUt.  Intematioral  as  the  scope  of  its  survey  .lecessarily 
is,  it  has  already  dei.ionstrated  how  valuable  a  similar  Bureau 
properly  constituted  on  international  lines  might  prove. 

Entland.  The  British  Government  in  the  past  has  not 
maintained  an  official  entomologist  or  entomological  staff.  The 
Board  of  Agriculture  and  Pisheries  has  been  contrnt  to  retain 
the  services  of  an  outside  entomologist  to  prepare  replies  to  any 
entomological  inquiries  submitted  to  ic  by  farmers  and  others, 
and  their  leaflets  have  been  chiefly  the  work  of  unofficial 
advisers.  In  the  absence  of  an  official  entomological  staff  the 
investigation  of  insects  affecting  agriculture  has  been  left  in 
the  hands  of  men  such  as  Prof.  P.  V.  Theobald  of  the  South 
Eastern  Agricultural  College  who  is  now  making  a  much 
needed  study  of  the  British  aphides  and  whose  work  on  mos- 
quitoes is  well  known,  Mr.  C.  Warbiurton  of  Cambridge,  Prof. 
Newstead  of  Liverpool,  Mr.  W.  E.  Collinge,  and  others. 

It  is  perhaps  difficult  or.  this  continent  to  understand  the 
underlying  reason  for  the  scant  development  of  "official" 
entomology  in  England.  But  it  must  be  pointed  out  thr'- 
agricultural  conditions  are  entirely  different  in  such  old  coun- 
tries where  there  is  a  more  intensive  system  of  farming,  a 
consequent  closer  supervision  of  crops,  cleaner  cultivation  and 
long  developed  systems  of  rotation.  More  especial'y,  the 
comparative  stability  of  the  agricultural  conditions  has  pro- 
duced a  more  perfect  balance  in  all  those  natural  conditions 
the  disturbance  of  which  in  more  lately  developed  countricii 
leaJ^  to  an  abnormal  behaviour  of  the  insects  which  are  poten- 
tially .  '>xious.    These  facts  should,  therefore,  be  borne  in  mind 


Annals  Entomological  Society  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 


in  considering  the  apparent  lack  of  any  extensive  development 
in  applied  entomology  in  the  older  European  countries. 

In  1912  the  Horticultural  Branch  of  the  Board  of  Agri- 
culture and  Fisheries  was  established  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  A.  G.  L.  Rogers.  This  branch  has  the  administration  of  the 
Destructive  Insects  and  Pests  Act  to  carry  out  which  legislation 
five  trained  inspectors  are  employed.  Their  work,  however, 
is  at  present  largely  concerned  with  plant  diseases.  An  ad- 
vance was  made  in  1913  when  Mr.  J.  C.  Fryer  was  appointed 
Entomologist  to  the  Board.  His  work  is  primarily  of  an 
advisory  character,  advisory  to  the  Board  in  regard  to  legisla- 
tion and  to  the  public  by  means  of  letters  or  leaflets.  He  also 
studies  epidemic  pests  and  insects  of  unusual  importance.  For 
example,  Mr.  Fryer  has  begun  a  study  of  the  species  of  Hypo- 
nomeuta  the  Ermine  Moths,  whose  introduction  into  the  State 
of  New  York  afforded  Mr.  P.  J.  Parrott  an  opportunity  of 
studying  them  in  a  new  environment.  The  Narcissus  Flies, 
Merodon  equestris  and  Eumerus  strigatus  have  also  been  studied. 
Mr.  Fryer  informs  me  that  he  is  now  studying  Hylemyia  coarc- 
tata  a  serious  wheat  pest  in  low-lying  marshy  districts.  Capsid 
bugs,  which  cause  similar  injuries  to  fruit  to  those  with  which 
we  are  familiar  in  the  northeastern  region  of  North  America, 
are  also  receiving  attention. 

Entomological  investigations  are  also  conducted  at  certain 
of  the  universities  by  means  of  grants  from  a  Government 
Development  Commission  Fund.  It  would  appear  to  be  the 
intention  to  foster  the  investigation  of  insect  pests  in  recog- 
nised university  departments  rather  than  in  a  department  of 
the  government,  a  plan  which  has  advantages  and  disadvant- 
ages which  I  will  not  discuss  here.  As  a  result  there  is  a  Depart- 
ment of  Agricultural  Entomology  at  the  Unr  rsity  of  Man- 
chester under  Dr.  A.  D.  Imms,  and  forest  insects  are  studied 
at  the  University  of  Oxford.  Prof.  Maxwell  Lefroy  of  the 
Imperial  College  of  Science  and  Technology,  London,  has  also 
been  conducting  investigations  in  applied  entomology. 

Scotland.  A  few  years  ago  a  separate  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture for  Scotland  was  established  and  Dr.  R.  Stewart 
McDougall  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh  acts  as  Entomolo- 
gist to  the  Board.  Dr.  McDougall's  work  is  largely  concerned 
with  forest  insects  but  his  work  on  the  Sheep  Maggot  Flies, 
Lucilia  spp.,  is  well  known. 


1916] 


Entomology  in  the  British  Empire 


Ireland.  Prof.  G.  H.  Carpenter  of  the  Royal  College  of 
Science,  Dublin,  acts  as  Entomologist  to  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  Technical  Instruction  of  Ireland  and  publishes 
an  annual  report  on  economic  entomology  in  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society.  Prof.  Carpenter's  investigatory 
work  during  a  number  of  years  has  been  confined  chiefly  to  the 
study  of  the  Warble  Flies,  Hypoderma  bans  and  H.  lineata. 

Afbica. 

On  no  other  continent  in  the  world  has  the  struggle 
between  insect  and  man  been  so  acute  as  on  this  immense  area 
containing  tropical  and  sub-tropical  conditions,  and  nowhere 
has  the  insect  been  so  victorious  or  so  securely  entrenched  in 
regions  offering  every  advantage  to  it  and  every  obstacle  to  man. 
The  mosquito  has  held  the  key  to  some  of  the  richest  regions 
of  the  earth's  surface,  the  Tsetse  fly  has  rendered  extensive 
transportation  impossible,  and  the  tick,  if  one  may  be  permitted 
to  use  entomology  in  its  broad  sense  and  include  ticks,  has 
kept  the  white  man  at  bay  and  devastated  his  herds.  But  by 
slow  degrees  the  power  is  passing  from  insect  to  man  and 
nowhere  is  the  conquest  of  such  an  adverse  and  powerful  force 
of  nature  by  patient  effort  illustrated  more  strikingly  than  in 
the  gradual  conquest,  in  the  real  sense,  of  Africa.  The  West 
Coast  is  no  longer  a  "White  man's  grave,"  as  it  was  formerly 
called,  nagana  and  tick  fevers  are  losing  their  original  terrors 
and  we  should  be  unworthy  of  our  traditions  did  we  believe 
that  sleeping  sickness  would  always  remain  the  scourge  that 
experience  has  demonstrated  it  to  be  within  recent  years. 

The  British  territories  in  Africa  are  so  situated  that  it  has 
fallen  to  the  lot  of  our  investigators  to  contribute  largely  to 
this  notable  conquest,  the  history  of  which  would  constitute 
one  of  the  finest  examples  of  entomological  achievement  that 
we  have.  But  to  attempt  to  outline  such  a  history  would  exceed 
the  limits  which  must  necessarily  be  set  to  this  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  work  is  being  carried  on  at  the  present 
time. 

The  Union  of  South  Africa.  Prior  to  the  formation  of  the 
Union  of  South  Africa  the  four  colonies.  Cape  Colony,  Natal, 
Transvaal  and  the  Orange  Free  State,  carried  on  their  ento- 
mological work  independently.  Cape  Colony  which  created  a 
Division  of  Entomology  with  Mr.  C.  P.  Lounsbury  as  Chief  in 
1895,   was   the   most   advanced.      Following   the   union,    Mr. 


Annals  Enlomological  Society  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 


Lounsbiuy  was  made  Chief  of  the  new  Division  of  Entomology 
of  the  Union  Department  of  Agriculture  with  headquarters 
at  Pretoria.  The  work  of  this  Division  comprises,  in  addition 
to  the  dissemination  of  advice  on  insect  problems  and  the 
carrying  on  of  investigations,  the  administration  of  government 
regulations  concerning  (1)  the  suppression  of  locusts,  (2)  the 
inspection  of  nurseries  (3)  plant  and  fruit  imports,  and  (4) 
restrictions  on  the  conveyance  of  plants  and  fruit.  At  Pretoria 
Mr.  Lounsbury  has  Mr.  Claude  Fuller,  former  Entomologist 
for  Natal,  as  Assistant  Chief  and  is  also  assisted  by  Mr.  D. 
Gunn  .^nd  several  inspectors.  The  following  branch  laboratories 
are  also  maintained:  Capetown,  with  Mr.  C.  W.  Mally  in 
charge;  Bloemfontein,  Mr.  J.  C.  Faure  in  charge  of  investiga- 
tions in  the  Orange  River  Colony;  and  New  Hanover,  Natal, 
with  Mr.  C.  B.  Hardenberg  in  charge.  In  addition  to  the 
staffs  at  these  laboratories,  plant  inspectors  are  stationed  at  the 
following  ports  of  entry  for  plants  and  fruit:  Capetown, 
Johannesburg,  Durban,  East  London  and  Port  Elizabeth. 
The  agricidtural  situation  in  South  Africa  is  peculiar  owing 
to  the  fact  that  agriculture  is  not  yet  the  basic  industry  of  the 
country.  The  greater  part  of  the  agricultural  lands  is  devoted 
to  live  stock,  and  the  cultivation  of  the  land  is  proceeding 
gradually.  Nevertheless,  the  climatic  conditions  are  eminently 
suitable  to  the  cultivation  of  deciduous  and  citrus  fruits  with 
the  result  that  progress  in  this  direction  is  being  made. 

The  development  of  a  fruit-growing  industry  has  naturally 
demanded  a  vigilant  policy  in  the  matter  of  preventing  the 
introduction  and  spread  of  foreign  fruit  pests  and  the  policy 
has  been  to  restrict  importations  of  nursery  stock  and  to  foster 
local  nurseries.  On  this  account  nursery  inspection  constitutes 
the  prominent  feature  of  the  work  of  the  Division  of  Entomol- 
ogy. This  work  and  the  inspection  of  imported  nursery  stock 
and  fruits  and  regulation  of  the  transportation  of  home  grown 
fruit  is  carried  out  under  the  Agricultural  Pests  Act  of  1911. 

To  retard  the  spread  of  the  codling  moth  which  was 
introduced  into  the  country,  apple,  pear  and  quince  fruits 
may  not  be  transported  into  certain  areas.  Equally  stringent 
measures  were  adopted  to  prevent  the  spread  of  San  Jose 
scale  {Aspidiotus  pemiciosus).  Undoubtedly  the  control  of 
locusts  constitutes  one  of  the  most  serious  problems  in  South 
Africa.     Of  the  two  species  of  migratory  locusts  the  brown 


1916] 


Entomology  in  the  British  Empire 


9 


locust  PachytUus  suUicoUis  is  more  serious  than  Schistocerca 
peregrina.  From  the  Kalahari  Desert,  in  what  has  hitherto 
been  called  German  South  West  Africa,  which  is  the  permanent 
habitat  of  the  species,  vast  swarms  migrate  to  Central  and 
Eastern  Cape  Colony,  Transvaal,  Orange  River  Colony  and 
Rhodesia  and  breed  there.  These  swarms  sometimes  have  a 
frontage  of  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  and  a  length  of  sixty  to 
seventy  miles  and  take  several  days  to  pass  a  given  point. 
They  devastate  the  veldt  of  all  green  food  with  serious  results; 
in  1906  it  was  estimated  that  the  locust  damage  in  South  Africa 
amounted  to  five  million  dollars.  The  control  of  these  locusts 
is  regulated  by  law.  Farmers  are  required  to  report  the  laying 
of  the  eggs  and  the  appearance  of  the  young  hoppers.  They 
are  also  required  to  destroy  the  young  hoppers  and  the  govern- 
ment furnishes  the  poison.  Arsenite  of  soda  mixed  with  water 
and  molasses  or  sugar  is  universally  used  and  with  success 
over  large  areas,  the  poison  being  usually  applied  by  means 
of  bucket  pumps  which  are  loaned  to  the  farmers.  This  cam- 
paign necessitates  the  keeping  in  stock  of  a  large  store  of 
prepared  poison  and  a  supply  of  pumps  for  any  emergency. 

Notwithstanding  the  large  amount  of  administrative  work, 
the  entomologists  in  South  Africa  have  undertaken  important 
lines  of  investigation.  Mr.  Lounsbury's  work  on  ticks  is  well 
known  and  Mr.  C.  W.  MaDy's  name  will  always  be  remembered 
where  poisoned  baits  for  fruit-fli^  are  used.  Mr.  Fuller  has 
also  contributed  to  our  knowledge  of  the  termites  and  Mr. 
Hardenberg  has  made  extensive  studies  of  the  insects  affecting 
the  wattle. 

The  tick  problem  is  a  very  serious  one  in  South  Africa, 
several  most  important  diseases  of  live  stock  being  transmitted 
by  these  agents.  Of  these  diseases  East  Coast  Fever,  due  to 
the  protozoan  parasite  Theileria  parva,  which  is  carried  by 
several  species  of  ticks  of  the  genus  Shipicephalus,  is  the  most 
serious  and  has  pUyed  great  havoc.  In  addition  the  disease 
included  under  the  general  term  Piroplasmosis  namely,  bilary 
fever  in  hors^  and  redwater  in  cattle,  are  serious  adverse 
factors  in  the  main  type  of  agriculture  followed  in  South 
Africa.  Fortunately  the  Veterinary  Branch  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  has  attacked  the  tick  problem  in  a  vigorous 
manner  alimg  well  known  lines,  no  little  credit  being  due  to  the 
work  of  Dr.  Arnold  Theilfer. 


10 


Annals  Entomological  Society  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 


Rhodesia.  The  entomological  problems  of  Rhodesia  are 
not  very  dissimilar  on  the  whole  to  those  of  South  Africa, 
although  there  are  certain  lines  of  inquiry  which  are  peculiar 
to  this  region.  Mr.  R.  W.  Jack,  the  Government  Entomologist 
has  his  headquarters  at  Salisbury  and  is  assisted  by  Mr.  R.  L. 
Thompson.  Their  work  follows  along  the  usual  lines  outlined 
in  the  case  of  South  Africa.  Under  the  "  Imjjortation  of 
Plants  Regulations"  and  "Nurseries  Ordinance"  the  Govern- 
ment prevents  the  introduction  and  spread  of  insect  pests  and 
plant  diseases.  Four  ports  of  entry  have  been  established, 
namely,  Salisbury,  Bulawayo,  Umtali  and  Gwelo,  at  which 
fumigation  houses  are  maintained.  Nurseries  must  register 
and  are  inspected  annually. 

The  country  is  subject  to  locust  plagues  and  native  com- 
missioners, cattle  inspectors  and  members  of  the  British  South 
African  police  are  required  to  report  with  full  details  any  swarms, 
for  the  control  of  which  locust  poison,  spray  pumps,  etc.,  are 
kept  on  hand.  The  Government  protects  the  chief  bird  enemies 
of  the  locust,  such  as  the  White  Stork,  Cattle  Egret,  Lesser 
Locust  Bird  and  Wattled  Starling. 

Much  attention  has  been  devoted  by  Mr.  Jack  to  the 
study  of  Tse-tse  flies  and  each  year  he  devotes  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  travelling  through  the  "fly"  belts  for  the  purpose 
of  making  bionomical  investigations  and  delimiting  the  areas 
of  these  belts.  Areas  infested  wich  Ghssina  morsitans  are 
defined  by  government  regulations  and  adjacent  areas,  or 
"open  areas"  are  also  defined  in  which  the  destruction  of  all 
game,  with  the  exception  of  ostriches  and  certain  game  birds,  is 
permitted.  The  results  of  Mr.  Jack's  investigations  have  been 
published  in  the  Bulletin  of  Entomological  Research. 

Other  inveetigations  are  mainly  concerned  with  pests  of  the 
more  important  crops,  such  as  com  (maize),  citrus  fruits  and 
tobacco  and  with  the  pests  of  lesser  cereals,  field  crops,  vege- 
tables tOid  stone  fruits.  The  wide  range  of  plants  and  trees 
cultivated  on  the  high  and  low  parts  of  the  territory  offer  an 
unusual  broad  field  for  research.  Tenebrionids  are  very 
common  and  have  been  studied  and  also  pests  of  co.n  (maize). 
A  formidable  problem  is  afforded  by  certain  fruit-piercing 
moths  belonging  to  the  genera  Maenas,  Ophiusa,  Achaea  and 
Sphingomorpha,   which  severely  injure  practically  all  fruits. 


1916] 


Entomology  in  the  British  Jmpire 


11 


The  control  measures  are  not  specially  peculiar,  although 
where  cheap  coloured  labour  is  available  hand-picking  may 
be  more  commonly  used  than  in  other  countries  dependent 
upon  white  labour.  A  long  dry  season  enables  advantage 
to  be  taken  of  clean  cultivation.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
country  is  being  opened  up  by  a  keen  class  of  agriculturists 
who  are  experimenting  with  new  crops  and  are  not  bound  by 
the  hard  and  fast  traditions  of  old  farming  communities,  the 
entomologists  are  frequently  consulted  and  co-operation  in 
experimental  work  is  readily  secured. 

Uganda.  In  this  rich  tropical  country  offering  great 
opportunities  for  entomological  investigations,  Mr.  C.  C. 
Gowdy  carries  on  his  work  as  Government  Entomologist 
single-handed.  The  study  of  the  Tse-tse  fly  problem  is  not 
carried  on  by  the  Department  of  Agricidture,  but  independently 
of  this  Department,  as  I  shall  show  later.  Mr.  Gowdy  is 
stationed  at  Kampala  and  the  size  of  the  country  and  meth- 
ods of  travel,  namely,  by  the  use  of  porters,  do  not  <?rmit 
of  a  very  thorough  study  of  any  one  problem,  especiall-  us  his 
only  assistants  are  natives,  who  are  constitutionally  lazy,  but 
nevertheless  make  good  collectors. 

The  importation  of  plants  and  seeds  is  regulated  by  Govern- 
ment Ordinances.  There  is  a  single  port  of  entry,  Kampala, 
and  there  all  imported  plants  are  inspected  and,  if  necessary, 
fumigated.  The  importation  of  cotton  seed  is  prohibited;  all 
plants  from  Ceylon,  coffee  plants  and  coffee  other  than  roasted 
beans  and  ground  coffee,  are  prohibited  without  special  consent. 
A  Plant  Pest  Board  has  been  created,  one  of  its  objects  being 
to  facilitate  the  reporting  of  the  existence  of  pests  and  the 
enforcement  of  preventive  or  remedial  measures. 

The  chief  entomological  problems  relating  to  agriculture  in 
Uganda  are  connected  with  principle  crops,  namely,  cotton, 
coffee,  cacao  and  Para  rubber.  Termites  and  locusts  also 
demand  attention. 

Undoubtedly  the  most  serious  entomological  problem  in 
Uganda  at  the  present  time  is  the  suppression  of  sleeping  sick- 
ness by  the  control  of  the  Tse-tse  fly.  For  about  thirteen  years 
this  disease,  which  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  last  decade  was 
responsible  for  the  deaths  of  several  hundred  thousands  of  the 
inhabitants  ot  Uganda,  has  been  studied  at  Entebbe  by  the 


u 


Annah  Entomdotical  SocUty  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 


Sleeping  SK-kness  Commiaaion,  on  which  Sir  David  Bruce 
has  been  tbe  principal  worker.  The  entomological  aspect  of 
the  question  was  not  specially  studied  until  comparatively 
recently,  but  now  it  is  receiving  more  of  the  attention  it  deserves, 
and  I  have  referred  to  the  fact  that  the  Imperial  Bureau  of 
Entomology  has  two  investigators  at  work  in  Uganda,  namely, 
Mr.  W.  F.  Fiske,  formerly  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of 
Entomology,  and  Dr.  G.  D.  H.  Carpenter,  who  have  already 
added  suostantially  to  our  knowledge  of  the  bionomics  of  the 
Tse-tse  flies.  In  the  adjacent  British  territory  of  Nyasaland, 
Dr.  W.  A.  Lambom  of  the  Imperial  Bureau  of  Entomology  is 
studying  the  Tse-tse  fly  problem. 

BriHsh  Easi  AJrica.  The  Department  of  Agriculture  has 
as  its  Chief  Entomologist  Mr.  T.  J.  Anderson,  who  is  stationed 
at  Nairobi,  the  headquarters  of  the  government  of  the  Pro- 
tectorate. He  has  an  assistant,  a  Plant  Import  Inspector  and  a 
staS  of  nativa  collectors.  The  careful  examination  of  all 
plants,  seeds,  etc.,  entering  the  Protectorate  is  undertaken  by 
the  Plant  Import  In^«ctor  under  the  R^:ulat»on8  ot  the  Disease 
of  Plants  Prevention  Ordinance,  1910.  There  are  special 
reflations  rdating  to  coffee  and.  cotton.  Facilities  are  pro- 
vided at  the  Government  Exp^vnental  Farm  where  the 
entotnological  laboratory  is  stuated  for  the  carrying  on  of 
entomological  invertJgatiQns,  The  most  troublesome  insect 
past  periiaps  is  the  coconut  beetle  (flrydes  mimoceres).  The 
antiesliia  bug  (4nt«slia  vsnifgim)  is  very  injurious  to  the 
coOee  plants.  Experimente  a«e  now  being  carried  out  on  the 
coatttfA  of  the  latter  pest  by  aa  Ichneumon  parasite. 

Egypt.  Previous  to  the  creation  of  a  Department  of  Agri- 
culture in  1910,  the  Ministry  of  Interior  and  the  Khedivial 
Society  of  Agritulture-  undertook  the  study  of  insect  pests, 
Mp.  p.  C.  WillcoclB  b«ng  the  Entomologist  of  the  Society  and 
the  Yearbooks  of  the  Society  contain  the  results  of  Ms  numerous 
investigations,  particularly  on  the  Egyptian  cotton  worm 
(^rodtnia  lUma)  and  the  Egyptian  cotton  bolt-womi  {Eurias 
instUana).  Insects  affecting  cotton  have  received  the  greatest 
attention^  ob^  account  of  the  increasing  importance  of  that  crop. 
Under  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  which  was  organized  in  1913, 
the  cotton  worm,  bait  worm  and  locust  campaigns  are 
carried  out  by  the  Administrative  Division  independently  of 


1916] 


BMomobty  m  <*e  «rM>*  Mmpirt 


U 


the  Entomological  Section.  The  Entomotogical  Section  ii 
part  of  the  Technical  Divisiao  of  the  Miniitry  of  Agmcultore. 
The  Consulting  AgricuHuritt,  Mr.  G.  C.  Dudgeon,  who  ii 
alio  an  entomologist,  is  head  of  the  Technical  Division.  The 
Director  of  the  Entamoki«ioal  Sectioii  is  Dr.  Lewis  H.  Gough, 
who  is  assisted  by  Messrs.  0.  Storey  and  E.  W.  Adair.  In 
addition  a  staff  of  Egyptians  voder  Dr.  Cough's  direction  has 
charge  of  the  inspection  and  fumigation  of  imported  plants, 
which  are  treated  at  the  port  of  entry.  The  fumigation  of 
citrus  trees,  with  a  view  to  controlling  Aspidiahu  amidum, 
which  is  a  severe  jnst  of  oranges  in  the  Delta  region,  is  carried 
on  by  the  Government  fumigation  brigades.  Among  the 
tropical  fruit  pests  may  be  «nentioned  the  pyralid  moth 
EpIieaHli  cauMla,  which  seriously  injures  dates  in  some  sections, 
and  the  butterfly  ViraoMa  *Wo,  which  attacks  pomegranites. 
In  Egypt  one  meets  in  a  striking  manner  the  difficulties 
which  confront  the  entomologist  who  has  to  deal  in  tropical 
countries  with  native  agricultural  taboners.  These  difficulties 
necessitate  the  control  of  insects,  as  far  as  possible,  without  the 
use  of  poisons  or  spray  pomps.  The  waive  agricultural 
labourer  is  very  ignorant  and  very  careless  and  cannot  be 
entrusted  with  poisons  <or  wtth  machines  tkait  are  not  entirely 
fool-rjioof.  This  accounts  for  the  maaoer  in  which  the  annual 
campaign  against  the  pests  of  cotton,  the  cotton  worm  and  the 
boll  worm  .is  conducted  by  the  Admiaistvative  Division.  The 
regulations  governing  these  campsngns  provide  for  the  hsnd- 
picjdng  of  the  ^K  masses  Of  Pnieiaa  Htura  on  the  cotton 
leaves,  and  the  redaction  of  the  numbers  of  the  boll  worms 
b  attempted  by  ordering  and  enforcing  the  destruction  of  all 
cotton  boUs  at  a  certain  date  each  year  after  the  final  picking. 
Incidentally,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  persons  who  have  been 
imprisoned  for  contravening  the  cotton  worm  laws  are  con- 
demned to  carry  otft  these  centred  mMsures.  The  pink  boll 
worm  of  cotton  Gekehia  tessypieUa  was  introduced  into 
Egypt  a  few  years  ago  with  disastrous  results,  and  methods 
for  the  control  of  the  Gelechia  larvae  in  cotton  seed  on  a  com- 
mercial scale  are  now  being  investigated.;  at  present  the  treat- 
ment of  seed,  the  destruction  during  the  winter  of  cotton 
sticks  and  wood  stored  for  fuel  is  required  by  law. 


14 


Annals  Enlomohticdl  Sbciay  «/  America    (Vol.  IX, 


Reference  should  also  be  made  to  the  work  in  Egypt  of 
Mr.  A.  Andres,  one  of  the  inventors  of  the  Andres-Maire  bait 
traps  for  moths,  to  which  reference  is  made  in  discussing  the 
control  of  insects  in  India. 

Sudan.  The  entomological  work  for  this  country  is  carried 
on  by  Mr.  H.  H.  King,  who  is  Entomotogist  to  the  Gordon 
Memorial  College  at  Khartoum,  the  seat  of  Government. 
Mr.  King's  work  has  been  largely  confined  to  the  study  of  the 
blood-sucking  insects  which  are  naturally  of  paramount  impor- 
tance in  that  region  and  his  investigations  on  mosquitoes,  and 
particularly  on  Tabanidae  are  furnishing  valuable  results. 

In  passing  attention  should  be  called  to  regulations  governing 
the  examination  of  persons  entering  the  Sudan  from  Uganda  for 
sleeping  sickness.  Such  persons  must  proceed  to  Mongalla 
for  examination  by  the  Medical  Officer  there.  There  are  also 
restrictions  on  trade  with  Uganda;  it  m-  y  only  be  carried  on  by 
licensed  persons. 

Locust  outbreaks  constitute  a  serious  trpuble  from  time  to 
time  in  the  Sudan,  5.  perigrina  being  the  chief  species  and  the 
use  of  poisoned  bait,  poisoned  with  sodium  arsenite  has  been 
employed  with  success. 

British  West  Africa.  The  British  territories  consist  of  the 
coloTiies  of  Gambia,  Sierra  Leone,  the  Gold  Coast,  Lagos,  and 
Northern  and  Southern  Nigeria.  In  these  rich  tropical  regions 
the  agricultural  products  are  very  varied,  including  not  only 
such  native  products  as  rubber,  pahn  oil,  cacao  and  various 
native  nuts,  etc.,  but  cultivated  crops  such  as  cotton,  the 
development  of  which  industry  is  progressing,  rice,  coffee,  and 
com  (maize).  The  greatest  obstacle  to  agricultural  develop- 
ment under  European  direction  has  been  the  widespread 
occurrence  of  malaria,  which  for  many  years  tendered  permanent 
residence  impossible  to  Europeans.  To  a  lesser  degree  other 
tropical  diseases  contributed  to  the  difficulties  of  existence 
and  agricultural  expansion.  Fortunately,  it  has  been  possible 
in  recent  years  by  the  adoption  of  the  necessary  anti-malarial 
measures  to  remove  to  an  encouraging  degree  so  serious  an 
obstacle,  with  consequent  impetus  to  the  development  of  those 
rich  territories. 

The  development  of  entomological  work,  in  so  far  as  it 
relates  to  the  study  and  control  of  insect  pests  affecting  the 


1916) 


Entomology  in  the  British  Empire 


IS 


cropi  that  are  pt)wn,  has  naturally  been  seriously  handicapped 
by  hitherto  well  nigh  insuperable  factors.  Nevertheless,  much 
pioneer  work  has  been  accomplished  and  a  considerable  amount 
of  information  has  been  collected  regarding  the  insect  pests 
occurring  in  the  various  territori.";.  Mr.  A.  D.  Peacock,  late 
Entomologist  for  Southern  Nigeria,  has  published  an  extensive 
report  on  the  insect  pests  of  that  region  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Patterson 
on  the  Gold  Coast  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Jobbins-Pomeroy  in  Nigeria, 
are  prosecuting  their  investigations  with  a  leal  that  is  not 
checked  by  the  primitive  and  backward  conditions  of  native 
agriculture,  the  difficulties  of  travel  or  the  inadequacy  of 
laboratory  accommodation,  assistance  or  entomological  equip- 
ment. To  those  entomologists  brought  up  and  accustomed 
to  work  in  the  lap  of  luxury  so  far  as  facilities  and  apparatus 
for  entomological  investigations  are  concerned,  the  difficulties 
with  which  the  British  entomologists  working  in  these  tropical 
colonies  have  to  contend  are  inconceivable.  That  they  are 
able  to  accomplish  so  much  is  proof  of  their  intense  enthusiasm 
for  their  work  and  their  ability  to  withstand  conditions  and 
surmount  obstacles  which  would  conquer  any  but  the  strongest 
natures. 

The  widespread  prevalence  of  tropical  diseases,  particularly 
malaria  and  human  Trypanosomiasis,  led  the  Imperial  Bureau 
of  Entomology  to  imdertake  extensive  surveys  of  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  blood-sucking  insects  of  West  Africa  and  Dr. 
J.  J.  Simpson  has  been  conducting  such  an  investigation. 
He  has  collected  an  enormous  amount  of  valuable  data  and  has 
made  observations  of  great  importance  as  a  perusal  of  his 
numerous  excellent  reports  which  have  been  published  in  the 
Bulletin  of  Entomological  Research  will  show.  His  investigations 
which  are  being  continued  at  the  present  time  constitute  one 
of  the  most  important  phases  of  the  Imperial  Bureau's  work. 

Australia. 
A  visitor  to  Australia  is  impressed  with  the  abundance  of 
insect  life,  particularly  in  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions 
of  the  continent  and,  while  little  more  than  the  fringe  of  the 
possible  agricultural  regions  of  the  country  has  been  utilized, 
if  we  except  the  sheep  grazing  sections,  where  production  of 
deciduous  and  citrus  fruits  and  sugar  is  being  actively  developed, 
the  inevitable  disturbance  of  the  natural  equilibrium  and  the 


W  AmuUEuhmileiiMlSiemyiffAit    ia    (Vol.  K. 

inttoduction  cf  new  pwu  bafon  qMBUtiiic  nMrictioiw  an 
anpoied,  hx  followed.  Ptnttmately,  the  caaftineiit  appMLi  to 
be  weU  tuppUed  wfth  wtonl  meuii  of  ctMitil  of  «  vifntxti 
*tad.  particuUrly  u  ngwdi  pradatory  imecti  lueh  •■  aoU 
•nd  coconellid*,  in  *%ai  AuatnUa  haa  ataays  been  the  happr 
Inmting  ground  for  uie  lady-bird  InmtaM. 
.  The  Commonwealth  Oovernraaat«f  AaatMha  did  aot  on  itt 
lennation  about  fifteen  yean  ago,  aawne  wy  jniiidictiaii  over 
agricultural  matten.  bat  left  the  iadiviakurl«atei  ia  Adl  control 
There  u,  therefore,  no  entomological  «oik  audertaken  by  the 
Conmionweatth  Government  beyond  the  admii^ration  el  the 
Federal  Quarantine  Act.  which  reguUtai  the  importation  of 
^anu,  etc.,  into  the  country;  this  Act,  I  believe,  ii  adminiitered 
»>y  the  Department  of  Trade  and  Cuitom.  As  the  'entomolo- 
gical work  u  carried  on  by  the  vaiiout  States  independently  it 
must  be  so  described. 

ATntr  South  WaUs.  Agriculture  is  one  of  the  principal 
industries  of  the  Sute,  the  largest  area  being  devoted  to  sheep 
graimg.  Cereals,  com,  tobacco,  deddmius  and  oitnu  fruite 
and  sugar  cane  are  also  grown  succesafully.  Consequently 
the  range  of  insect  pests  encountered  in  the  State  is  extensive 
The  work  of  Mr.  Walter  W.  Proggatt,  the  Covemment  Ento^ 
mologist  IS  weU-known.  While  his  sphere  is  New  Soath  Wales, 
he  carries  on  extensive  cortespondenoe  with  other  paru  of 
AusteaKa,  with  New  Gmnea,  Fiji  and  other  islands  of  the 
Faafic.  His  experimental  work  is  carried  on  at  the  various 
experiment  Farms  in  the  Sute  and  at  ajnuU  stotion  at  Narara 
experiments  on  the  control  of  fruit  flies,  which  constitute 
periiaps  the  worst  insect  pest  on  the  continent,  are  conducted 
OiWng  to  the  serious  losses  inflicted  by  various  species  of  blow^ 
ftes  of  the  genus  CalUpkora  on  the  sheep  industry  a  special 
field  station  has  been  maintained  for  several  seasons  for  the 
investigation  of  sheep  maggot  ilies. 

Under  the  State  Vine  and  Vegetation  diseases  Act  a  large 
rtaff  of  inspectors  is  employed  in  different  districts  to  see  that 
the  regulations  concerning  spraying,  etc.,  are  earned  out 
Imported  fresh  and  dried  fruits,  seeds,  etc.,  are  subject  to  inspec- 
faon  and  exported  fruit  is  fumigated  if  required.  An  unusual 
toe  of  work  consiste  in  the  certification  of  freedom  from  the 
fowl  tick  (Argas  persicae)  of  all  the  potdtry  going  out  of  the 
State. 


19161 


Enhmthgy  in  Ik*  Britisk  Bmpin 


17 


Under  th»  r  .^tion  of  Dr.  Prank  Tidswell,  D  rector  of  the 
Ooverament  Bureau  of  Microbiology,  attention  hai  been 
pai.  to  inwcti  concerned  in  the  tranimiuion  of  diieaie  par- 
ticuWIy  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Cleland,  the  retultk  of  whow  in  eitigationi 
have  been  published  in  the  Annual  Reporti  of  the  I>ureau. 

Victoria.  Agriculture  in  the  State  is  of  a  general  character 
„  ■?•"•■'<'"■  "^■'>v»t'o«>.  particularly  in  cereali.  is  increasing. 
Mr.  C.  Fre.ich,  Jr.,  is  responsible  for  th*  ratomologic  al  work 
but  little  ^'.-k  of  an  investigatory  i'  ' 

carried  on.  A  large  part  of  Mr  Pre 
the  administration  of  the  Fruit  a 
ordinances. 

South  Australia.     About  two  thirrf 
are  fanned  or  grazed.     The  climate  pert 
fruits,  almonds  and  olives  and  there  i; 
under  vineyards.   The  entomological  w. 
on  by  liie  Horticultural  Division  of  t  h     state 
Agriculture  at   Adelaide.     Strict   men  iires  a- 
prevent  the  introduction  of  the  g.-ape  pbylloxt  , 
exotic  insect  pests  by  the  usual  mrthods  of  • 
Nursery  inspectors  are  also  employed  to  cam 
against  the  codling  moth  and  scale  in    Tts  itfci  i 

Queensland.  The  State  DeparTn.Knt  of 
maintained  an  Entoi-iologist  sine  ml  and 
Government  Entomologist,  Mr.  enry  frvi 
headquarters  at  Brisbane,  is  known  to  mo' 
The  varied  climatic  conditions  of  the  State  '» 
of  an  extensive  range  of  insect  pests,  atf.'. 
to  the  usual  acricultural  crops  and  fruits,  such  .  a.  mm  suo- 
tropical  crops  as  cotton,  sugar,  pineapples,  f>M»„»»,  coconuts 
and  coffee.  Mr.  Tryon  has  recently  retumt-  from  a  world's 
tour  taken  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  .le  methoJs  by 
which  the  prickly  pear  may  be  destroyed.  Much  of  the 
Entomologist's  time  is  occupied  in  travelling  about  tht  State 
Insects  affecting  sugar  cane  receive,  perhaps,  th<  most  attention 
a  special  field  station  for  their  investigation  being  maintained 
at  Gordonvale,  near  Cairns.  In  the  sugar-cane  growing 
distnct  Grub  Pest  Destruction  Committees  exist  for  the  purpose 
of  encouraging  the  destruction  of  sugar-cane  insects  par- 
ticularly the  beetle  Lepidoderma  albokurtum. 


>er  appeal  to  be 
rnie  is  d«  ited  to 
vsrsery-    Insi-  ction 

a.  are    of  the  State 

■If  grov  ingof  c   'rus 

nsideriabire  acreage 

th^'  Stati  ^scam-^ 

IVpanmeia  U 

cnr, loved    to 

»  a  .     of  other 

1  •«•§•■ 'ion,  etc. 

"■■  a  ^ampdign 

mt  fnitt 

Vrr-. -ttJiBfe   has 

<tme  of  the 

'ho  ''as  his 

"nomologists. 

"     hv  existence 

n  addition 

al  and  sub- 


u 


A  HHols  Enlomeltokal  S«(iHy  of  A  nurica     [Vol.  IX, 


Imported  and  exported  fruiti  and  fruit  grown  and  aold  in 
the  State  are  inipected  under  State  regulation!  by  a  (taff  of 
inapecton  and  the  inspection  of  nunerie*  ia  alio  carried  out. 

The  existence  of  iniect  borne  diaeaw*  in  the  State  haa 
reaulted  in  attention  being  paid  to  thia  branch  of  entomology 
and  at  the  Tropical  School  of  Medicine  at  Towniville  Mr.  P. 
Taylor  has  carried  on  some  excellent  work  on  btood-aucking 
Diptera,  particularly  Culicidae  and  Tabanidat. 

Tasmania.  The  entomological  work  of  the  Island  State  is 
conducted  in  conjunction  with  the  phytopathological  work  and 
advice  on  the  control  of  insect  pests  is  also  given  by  the  Fruit 
Expert.  Imported  fruit  is  inspected  and  local  Fruit  Boards 
administer  the  provisions  of  the  Codling  Moth  Act. 

Western  Australia.  The  agricultural  productions  of  this 
State  whose  cultivated  lands  fringe  the  western  coast  of  the 
continent  consist  mainly  of  cereals,  fruit  and  wines.  Large 
areas  suitable  for  the  cultivation  of  the  vine,  olive  and  silk 
coula  >je  opened  up  if  labour  and  meank  of  trmsport  were 
procurable.  An  Entomologist  has  been  maintained  since  1898 
and  the  present  occupant  of  the  position  is  Mr.  J.  L.  Norman, 
with  headquarters  at  Perth.  An  inspection  service  is  main- 
tained for  the  supervision  of  imported  vegetation  and  the 
nurseries  in  this  State,  and  modem  methods  of  dealing  with 
insect  pests  affecting  fnat  are  veiy  generally  followed. 

Northern  Territory.  Little  work  on  economic  insects  has 
been  carried  out  in  the  State  owing  no  doubt  to  the  '-ck  o* 
agricultural  development.  But  the  Government  Entomologist, 
Mr.  Gerald  F.  Hill,  who  is  stationed  at  Darwin,  has  made  some 
valuable  and  interesting  contributions  to  our  knowledge  of 
the  Termites.  Recently  he  has  been  studying  the  relation  of 
blood-sucking  flies  to  the  transmission  of  parasitic  nematode 
worms,  and  he  will  no  doubt  have  excellent  opportunities  for 
urther  work  on  veterinary  and  medical  entomology. 

Canada. 
The  interest  in  each  other's  work  and  the  spirit  of  co-opera- 
tion that  exists  between  Canada  and  the  United  States  renders 
an  enumeration  of  our  entomological  problems  unnecessary,  for 
owing  to  the  fact  that  we  share  the  same  continei.tal  area 
without  any  barrier  greater  than  a  parallel  of  latitude  and  a 


loiej 


Enlomoloty  in  Iht  Brilith  Empin 


10 


few  riven  and  lake*  we  are  compelled  to  experience  many  of 
your  entomological  troubles  and  to  receive  the  generoua  over- 
flow your  hospitality  to  foreign  invaden  provides.  But  while 
we  may  have  to  study  the  control  of  the  same  insects  that  occur 
in  the  United  States,  it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  our 
methods  will  be  the  same.  In  many  cases  the  environmental 
conditions  in  Canada,  particulnrly  in  the  matter  of  climate,  are 
different  with  a  resultant  difference  in  insect  behaviour  and 
therefore  in  control.  Accordingly,  in  our  entomological  work 
we  are  taking  nothing  for  granted,  except  where  we  are  com- 
pelled, but  we  are  working  out  our  own  problems  dt  novo. 

While  appH'^'l  entomology  was  officially  recognised  in  Ctn- 
ada  as  early  as  1856  it  did  not  have  its  real  birth  until  1869,  six 
years  after  the  establishment  of  the  Canadian  Entomological 
Society,  now  the  Entomological  Society  of  Ontario  by  reason  of 
a  provincial  grant  and  charter.  The  recognition  and  support 
of  this  Society  by  the  Province  of  Ontario  constituted  the  only 
official  step  in  applied  entomology  until  the  appointment  of 
Dr.  James  Fletcher  by  the  Dominion  Government  in  1884  as 
Government  Entomologist.  The  Dominion  Experimental  Farms 
were  established  in  1886  and  to  this  Branch  of  the  Department 
Dr.  Fletcher  was  attached  as  Entomoloi,ist  and  Botanist  until 
his  death  in  1908.  A  separate  Division  of  Entomology  of  the 
Experimental  Farms  Branch  was  then  created  and  I  was 
entrusted  with  the  organization  on  my  appointment  in  1939 
as  Dominion  Entomologist.  In  1910  the  Destructi\3  Insect 
and  P  .nt  Act  was  passed  and  in  1911  the  first  Dominion  Field 
Laboratory  was  established;  these  two  facts  are  indicative  of 
the  two  chief  lines  of  the  Dominion  work — administrative  and 
investigatory — and  the  development  of  the  work  along  these 
special  lines  led  in  1914  to  the  separation  of  the  entomological 
service  from  the  Experimental  Farms  Branch  and  its  elevation 
to  the  status  of  an  independent  Branch  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture.  The  sanction  of  the  Dominion  Parliament  to 
increased  appropriations  which  are  now  ■.:iore  in  accord  with 
the  needs  of  the  country  is  encouraging  evidence  of  a  desire  to 
afford  the  means  whereby  the  entomological  service  of  the 
Dominion  shall  be  in  a  better  position  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  situation. 


20 


A  nnals  Entomological  Society  aj  A  merica     [Vol.  IX, 


We  have  now  nine  field  laboratories  and  two  sub-stations. 
The  laboratory  at  Annapolis  Royal,  N.  S.,  serves  as  head- 
quarters for  the  control  work  and  bionomical  studies  of  the 
brown-taU  moth.     Mr.  G.  E.  Sanders,  the  officer  in  charge  is 
also  investigating  the  bud-moths  and  green-fruit  worms  of 
apple  and  their  control  and  is  conducting  insecticidal  investiga- 
tions.  A  sub-station  is  situated  at  Bridgetown,  N.  S.,  at  present. 
A  new  and  commodious  laboratory  building  in  Predericton, 
N.  B.,  serves  as  headquarters  for  the  work  in  New  Brunswick 
of  which  Mr.  J.  D.  TothiU  and  Mr.  L.  S.  McLaine  have  charge! 
Mr.  Tothill  is  in  charge  of  the  colonization  of  the  parasites  and 
predatory  enemies  of  the  brown-tail  and  gipsy  moths  which 
enemies,   through   the   courteous   co-operation   of   Dr.    L.   O 
Howard,  Chief  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Entomology,  we 
are  collecting  and  importing  from  the  New  England  States.    In 
addition  Mr.  Tothill  is  conducting  an  intensive  study  of  the 
natural  control  of  three  of  our  widely  spread  and  periodically 
destructive  insects— the  tent  caterpillar  {MaUuosoma  disstria) 
the  spruce   budworm    (Harmologa  fumiferana)   and    the   fall 
webworm  (Hyphantria  cunea).      It  is  our  intention  to  continue 
this  study  over  a  number  of  years.    The  results  secured  during 
the  past  two  or  ;hree  years  have  indicated  the  value  and 
necessity  of  such  an  intensive  study.    Mr.  McLaine  has  charge 
of  the  field  work  against  the  brown-tail  moth  in  the  winter  on 
which  a  force  of  seventeen  to  twenty  inspectors  is  engaged,  and 
in  the  summer  he  is  stationed  with  two  assistants  at  the  Gipsy 
Moth  Laboratory,   Melrose  Highlands,   Mass..  in  connection 
with  the  breeding  of  the  parasites  of  the  brown-tail  and  gipsy 
moths. 

At  a  field  laboratory  situated  at  Hemm-ngford,  Quebec  a 
Uttle  south  of  Montreal,  Mr.  C.  E.  Fetch  is  investigating  the 
apple  and  plum  curculios,  and  other  insects  affecting  apple  in 
connection  with  which  experimental  and  demonstrative  work 
on  spraying  is  conducted  in  a  number  of  orchards.  Mr.  Fetch 
has  also  been  carrying  on  experiments  for  three  seasons  on  the 
control  of  locusts  by  means  of  the  Coccobacillus  acridiorum. 

There  are  two  Field  Laboratories  in  Ontario.  At  Vineland 
in  the  Niagara  fruit  district,  Mr.  W.  A.  Ross  is  in  charge  of  a 
laboratory  where  fruit  insect  investigations  are  mainly  carried 
on.  For  four  seasons  Mr.  Ross  has  been  studying  the  control 
of  the  apple  maggot  (Rhagoklis  pomonella).      Two  years  ago 


M161 


Ealomohgy  in  the  British  Empire 


21 


he  commenced  soi  investigation  of  the  aphids  affecting  apple: 
AlMs  sorbi,  A.  pomi  and  A.  axena,  which  are  very  injurious. 
OreeiAionse  and  mill-infesting  insects  are  also  studied  at  this 
taborattory.  At  a  laboratory  at  Strathroy,  Ont.,  in  the  western 
l»rt  of  the  province,  Mr.  H.  F.  Hudson,  who  is  at  present  on 
leave  in  Flanders,  has  investigated  the  chinch  "bug  (Blissus 
Uucopterus)  and  commenced  a  study  of  the  white  grubs 
■(Lackmalema  spp.)  which  investigation  is  being  continued  in 
his  absence  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Gareau. 

Our  next  Field  Laboratory  is  situated  at  Treesbank  in 
southern  Manitoba  and  here  Mr.  Norman  Criddle,  whose  work 
on  locust  control  is  well  known,  is  investigating  the  bionomics 
and  control  of  white  grubs  (Lachnostema  spp.)  and  in  this 
connection  I  should  mention  that  this  investigation  is  conqjle- 
mentary  to  that  now  being  conducted  by  the  United  Ststtes 
Bateau  of  Entomology,  the  intention  being  to  study  these 
insects  over  the  whdle  range  of  their  distribution  in  North 
America.  The  value  of  such  co-operative  inquiry  is  obvious  to 
'bB.  In  addition  Mr.  Criddle  is  investigating  the  insects  affecting 
cereals  and  the  results  of  his  studies  of  the  Hessian  fly  and  the 
ii^ieat-stem  sawfly  have  been  recently  published. 

The  prairie  region  is  also  served  by  a  laboratory  at  Leth- 
bridgein  southern  Alberta  where  Mr.  E.  H.  Strickland  has  been 
devoting  particular  attention  to  a  study  of  the  various  species 
of  cutworms  which  are  seriously  injurious  to  grain  and  other 
crops  periodically.  For  example,  in  1912  Porosagratis  orlho- 
■gmia  destroyed  about  35,000  acres  of  wheat.  Last  year  the 
Army  Cutworm  {Choritagrotis  auxUiaris)  was  studied  and  con- 
tool  measures  were  demonstrated  in  the  field  with  valuable 
■results.  Mr.  Strickland  has  also  been  investigatmg  the 
abundant  nematode  fauna  associated  with  growing  grain. 

The  headquarters  for  our  work  in  British  Columbia  are  at 
Agassiz  in  the  lower  valley  of  the  Frazer  River.  Mr.  R.  C. 
Treheme,  the  oiScer  in  charge,  has  been  investigating  both 
fruit  insects  and  insects  affecting  vegetable  crops.  The  results 
of  his  study  of  the  strawberry  root  weevil  (Otiorynchus  ovatus) 
were  published  some  time  ago  and  his  investigations  on  the 
calbbage  root  maggots  are  now  completed.  In  addition  he 
has  made  valuable  observations  as  a  base  for  further  study,  on 
the  wheat  midge  (Diplons  ?  tritici)  and  the  budmoth  of  apple 
and  other  apple  insects. 


22 


Annals  Entomological  Society  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 


At  Vancouver,  B.  C,  we  have  a  laboratory  for  forest  insect 
investigations.  Mr.  R.  N.  Chrystal,  the  field  officer  in  charge, 
has  been  studying  in  particular  the  insects  destroying  conifers 
in  Stanley  Park,  especially  species  of  Chermes  and  one  or  two 
lepidopterous  larvae.  Under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Swaine  he  has 
continued  the  letter's  observations  on  the  Scolytida  and  other 
timber  destroying  beetles  in  the  province. 

All  the  work  is  directed  from  Ottawa  wiere  the  offices  of  the 
Entomological  Branch  are  situated.  Mr.  Arthur  Gibson  is 
Chief  Assistant  Entomologist  and  in  addition  to  assisting  in 
the  regular  executive  work  of  the  Branch  and  the  administration 
of  the  provisions  of  the  Destructive  Insect  and  Pest  Act,  he 
has  charge  of  the  w-ik  on  insects  affecting  field  crops,  garden 
and  greenhouse  anu  stored  products.  Mr.  Gibson's  work  on 
the  Noctuidae  is  well  known  and  during  the  last  few  years  he 
has  been  investigating  chiefly  the  control  of  locusts  and  root 
maggots.  Mr.  J.  M.  Swaine  is  Assistant  Entomologist  in 
charge  of  Forest  Insect  Investigations.  The  extensive  coni- 
ferous forests  of  Canada  naturally  offer  great  opportunities  for 
such  investigatory  work  and  particular  attention  has  been  paid 
to  serious  and  widespread  injuries  by  Scolytid  beetles  in  British 
Columbia.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Swaine  has  been 
making  taxonomic  and  biological  studies  of  the  Scolytidae  and 
we  hope  to  commence  the  publication  of  the  results  of  this 
study  shortly.  Our  studies  of  the  spruce  budworm,  exclusive 
of  its  natural  control,  have  been  completed  and  in  addition  much 
ground  work  has  been  accomplished  in  the  study  of  insects 
affecting  shade  trees.  Mr.  Germain  Beaulieu  has  charge  of 
the  collections  and  the  recent  establish' nent  of  a  national 
collection  of  insects  has  enabled  us  to  give  this  aspect  of  our 
work  the  recognition  it  deserves. 

The  Dominion  work  of  preventing  the  introduction  and 
spread  of  injurious  insects  is  carried  on  under  the  Destructive 
Insect  and  Pest  Act,  1910.  Under  the  Regulations  of  this  Act 
the  importation  of  all  nursery  stock,  etc.,  is  governed.  Nursery 
stock  may  be  imported  only  during  certain  periods  through 
prescribed  ports  of  entry  at  which  fumigation  and  inspection 
stations  are  provided.  Importers  are  required  to  give  notice 
of  the  ordering  and  receipt  of  those  classes  of  trees  and  plants 
subject   to  inspection.     Quarantine  regulations  also  prohibit 


1916] 


Entomology  in  the  British  Empire 


23 


the  importation  of  certain  classes  of  nursery  stock  and  vegetable 
products,  for  example,  the  importation  of  conifers  and  ever- 
greens from  the  New  England  States  is  prohibited  on  account 
of  the  gipsy  troth,  of  potatoes  from  CaJifomia  on  account  of 
the  potato  tuber  moth  (Phlhorimaea  operculella),  of  non- 
canned  fruit  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  on  account  of  the 
Mediterranean  fruit  fly  (Ceratitis  capitata).  The  field  work 
against  the  brown-tail  moth  in  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick is  also  carried  out  under  the  regulations  of  this  Act. 
Each  winter  the  whole  of  the  infested  area  in  these  two  provinces 
is  scouted  and  all  the  winter  webs  of  the  brown-tail  moth  are 
collected.  This  careful  work  has  so  far  prevented  the  establish- 
ment of  this  insect  in  New  Brunswick  and  has  kept  it  from 
increasing  beyond  harmless  proportions  in  Nova  Scotia. 

xt  would  exceed  the  limits  which  must  necessarily  be  set  to 
an  account  of  this  nature  if  I  permitted  my  enthusiasm  to 
exceed  my  judgment  and  described  further  aspects  of  our  work 
which  are  reported  annually,  although  I  am  aware  of  t'ie 
humiliating  fate  that  annual  reports  not  infrequently  suffer. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  the  valuable  investigations 
that  are  being  carried  on  at  Agassiz,  B.  C,  by  Dr.  Seymour 
Hadwen,  Assistant  Pathologist  of  the  Health  of  Animals 
Branch  of  the  Dominion  Department  of  Agriculture,  on  the  life 
histories  of  Hypoderma  bonis  and  H.  lineata,  which  are  undoubt- 
edly the  most  important  hitherto  carried  out. 

In  certain  of  the  provinces  applied  entomology  has  made 
encouraging  progress,  particularly  during  the  last  few  years.  In 
Ontario,  in  which  province  applied  entomology  in  Canada  had 
its  birth,  the  Entomological  Department  of  the  Ontario  Agri- 
cultural College  at  Guelph  has  always  combined  with  its 
educational  work  the  duty  of  assisting  the  farmers  and  fruit 
growers  of  the  province  in  solving  their  problems  and  with  this 
work  and  the  earlier  woik  in  Canada  the  name  of  Dr.  C.  J.  S. 
Bethune  will  always  be  associated.  In  1912,  Mr.  Lawson 
Caesar,  who  is  Associate  Professor  of  Entomology  in  the 
Agricultural  College,  was  appointed  Provincial  Entomologist. 
In  addition  to  the  investigatory  work  on  insects  affecting 
fruit,  Prof.  Caesar  has  charge  of  the  inspection  of  nurseries  in 
Ontario,  which  work  is  carried  out  under  the  provincial  Fruit 
Pest  Act. 


Annab  Bntomtipcdl  Sooitly  tf  Jtmerica    l\  ol.  IX, 


Britirii  Cotumbia  st  present  has  no  Provir.  .ial  Eatoniologtet 
owing  to  the  removal  of  Mr.  W.  fl.  Brittahi,  the  occjpant  of 
that  positiciD  for  one  year,  to  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Thomas 
Cmmingham,  the  Provincial  Inspector  of  Pruit  Ants  has  charge 
of  the  wodc  invoh'ed  in  administeriog  the  regolations  of  the 
Provincial  Horticiiltaral  Board  governing  the  control  of  insect 
pests  and  plant  diseases.  It  is  largely  due  to  his  zeal  that  the 
province  is  so  remoi&ably  free  from  such  orchard  pests  as  the 
San  Jose  scale  and  codling  moth.  The  inspection  of  toreign 
nursery  stock  is  carried  out  by  a  co-(^)erative  arrangement 
with  tlbe  Dominion  Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  Province  of  Nova  Scotia  appointed  a  Provincial  Ento- 
mologist in  1912,  Dr.  R.  Motheson  being  the  first  officer.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1S13  by  Prof.  W.  H.  Brittoin,  who  is  also 
Profesiior  of  Entomology  in  the  provincial  Agricultural  College 
at  Trui.>,  N.  S.  In  addition  to  administering  the  provincial 
injurious  Insect  and  Pest  Act,  and  his  teachii^  duties.  Prof. 
Brittoin  has  found  time  to  initiate  several  important  entomol- 
ogical inquiries.  In  particular  may  be  mentioned  investiga- 
tions on  the  aphids  afiecting  apple,  the  of^le  maggot  and 
Lygus  iuvUus.  For  the  purpose  of  prosecuting  this  work  two 
proyinoial 'field  laboratories  have  been  provided,  one  at  KentviUe 
N.  S.,  «nd  the  other  at  Smith's  Cove,  N.  S.  All  nursery  stock 
entering  the  province  is  inspected  and  fumigated  smd  the 
Dominion  Department  of  Agriculture  has  agreed  to  tlie  inflec- 
tion and  fumigation  by  tho  province  of  foreign  nursery  stock. 

Since  the  establishment  in  the  province  of  Quebec  of  the 
Macdonatd  Agricultural  College  at  St.  Annes  in  1907,  Prof. 
W.  JxMhhead  and  his  staff  have  developed  the  study  and 
practice  of  applied  entomology  in  the  province  wid  at  the 
present  time  entomological  investigations  are  lieing  con- 
ducted tliere.  Much  educational  work  is  being  accomplished 
through  the  Quebec  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Plants  from 
Insect  Pests  and  Fungous  Diseases  which  receives  a  provincial 
grant.  In  1912  the  Abbe  V.  A.  Huard,  Curator  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Museum  at  Quebec,  was  ^pointed  Provincial  Ento- 
mologist and  he  administers  a  prc>rincial  act  passed  in  1913, 
providing  for  the  inspection  of  nurseries  in  the  province. 

In  the  other  provinces  of  Canada,  no  provincial  entomol- 
ogists have  been  appointed  and  where  entomological  investi- 
gations are  being  conducted  they  are  in  connection  with  one 


1916]  Entomoloty  in  the  British  Empire  2S 

or  other  of  the  Domini  Field  Laboratories  that  I  have  men- 
tioned. As  the  ne'  ^r  more  work,  particularly  of  a  local 
character,  develops,  additional  attention  will  no  doubt  be  paid 
by  the  Provincial  Departments  of  Agriculture  to  applied  ento- 
mology. In  the  meantime  they  rely  on  the  assistance  provided 
by  the  Dominion  Government.  Where  Dominion  and  pro- 
vincial officers  are  carrying  on  investigations  in  the  same 
province,  the  heartiest  co-operation  is  enjoyed  and  arrange- 
ments are  made  witl'  a  view  to  preventing  duplication  of  the 
work  and  consequent  loss  of  energy.  In  certain  cases  investiga- 
tions are  conducted  conjointly  and  this  spirit  of  co-operation 
is  most  valuable,  particularly  in  its  relation  to  the  attitude  of 
the  public  towards  the  work. 

Ceylon. 

Fc  a  number  of  years  Mr.  E.  E.  Green,  who  is  widely  known 
by  his  work  on  the  Scale  Insects,  was  Government  Entomol- 
ogist to  the  Department  of  Agriculture  of  Ceylon  and  subse- 
quent to  his  relinquishing  the  position  in  1911,  entomological 
work  on  this  island  was  carried  on  by  Mr.  A.  Rutherford  whose 
recent  untimely  death  was  a  great  loss  to  colonial  entomology. 
Mr.  E.  R.  Speyer  is  now  in  Ceylon  investigating  the  most 
serious  insect  pest  of  the  island,  namely,  the  shot-hole  borer 
of  tea  XyU^yorus  fornicatus.  Tea  is  also  injured  by  the  tea 
Tortrix,  Capua  cojfearia,  the  yellow  tea  mite,  Tarsonemas 
translucens,  and  the  Termite,  Caiotermes  mUitaris,  which  hollows 
out  the  stems  of  living  tea  bushes.  Rubber  in  Ceylon  is 
attacked  by  a  number  of  insects,  particularly  root  and  other 
borers.  Cocoa,  rice  and  mulberry  plants  are  subject  to  the 
attacks  of  a  number  of  pests.  Various  species  of  Termites  are 
injurious  to  woodwork  as  in  most  tropic^  countries  where 
they  occur. 

Fiji. 

When  Mr.  P.  P.  Jepson  commenced  his  work  as  Entomol- 
ogist to  the  Department  of  Agricultuze  of  Fiji  in  1909i  he  fotmd 
serious  problems  aw^ting  his  attention,  particularly  in  the 
matter  of  insects,  affecting  bananas,  and  cocoanuts.  On  the 
island  of  Viti  Levu  cocoanut  cultivation  was  practically  abaa- 
doned  many  years  ago,  owing  to  the  injury  done  to^  the  leaves 
by  a  small  moth  Lemtana  iridescens  B.  B.    Since  1912'  a  change 


S6  ^""olt  Entomohgicol  Society  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 

has  taken  place  which  renders  the  chances  of  combatting  the 
insect  successfully  more  •  opeful.  The  most  serious  pest  of  the 
bananas  m  Fiji  is  the  weevil  Cosmopolites  sordidus  Germ  •  a' 
many  as  100,000  individuals  having  been  collected  in  one 
month  on  a  single  plantation.  This  widely  dist  but«d  pest 
was  mtroduced  in  1901.  As  enemies  in  the  form  i  predacious 
beetle  larva  occur  in  Java  and  Dutch  Borneo,  and  in  view  of 
the  impossibility  of  controlling  the  pest  by  artificial  means 
Mr.  Jepson  visited  Java  in  1913  to  studv  the  insect  predators  of 
this  weevil  and  among  them  he  found  the  Histerid  beetle 
Plastus  javanus  Er.,  the  most  effective.  Five  thousand  of 
these  beetles  were  collected  and  three  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  nmety-two  were  successfully  transported  to  Fiji  where 
they  were  distributed  in  lots  of  500  upon  different  badly  infested 
banana  plantations.  Subsequent  visits  showed  that  the  beetles 
were  alive  and  repioducing  after  four  months  in  the  country 
and  good  results  are  expected  from  this  interesting  experiment 
which  indicates  the  progressive  character  of  Mr.  Jepson's  work. 

India. 
^  "The  control  of  insect  pests  in  India  is  a  subject  of  singular 
interest,  not  so  much  on  account  of  the  unusual  nature  of  the 
insects  which  are  encountered  there  but  owing  chiLliy  to  the 
character  of  the  cultivators,  the  nature  of  the  country  and  the 
climatic  conditions.  Agriculture  constitutes  at  present  the 
chief  mdustry  of  the  country  and  about  sixty-five  per  cent,  of 
the  people  are  dependent  upon  it  as  a  means  of  livelihood  The 
European  planter  is  practically  negUgible  as  a  constituent 
factor,  the  dominant  class  being  the  cultivators.  These  are 
native  Indians  who  Uve  on  the  land  and  have  had  a  very  limited 
education.  In  many  cases  they  have  inherited  a  perfect  system 
of  agnculture.  But  in  the  face  of  an  insect  outbreak  their 
preconceived  notions  of  such  calamities,  their  aversion  to  taking 
hfe  directly  and  their  lack  of  any  kind  of  material  equipment 
for  fightmg  pests  make  the  appUcation  of  modem  methods  of 
msect  control  almost  an  impossibility.  Prof.  Maxwell  Lefroy 
who  did  valuable  work  of  a  fundamental  character  in  India,  has 
described  some  of  the  prevalent  ideas,  he  says:  "An  inteUigent 
cultivator  growing  sugar-cane  under  irrigation  on  an  extremely 
sound  system  with  good  manure,  beUeves  the  cane-borer  comes 
with  the  weU-water  used  for  irrigation."    He  has  no  conception 


loia] 


Entomology  in  the  British  Empire 


27 


of  its  life  history  but  he  regards  the  whole  thing  as  a  mystery, 
not  comparable  with  the  life  of  any  other  animal;  he  will,  as 
likely  as  not,  call  in  a  priest  to  check  it;  the  priest  will  perhaps 
write  four  texts  from  holy  writings,  place  them  one  at  each 
comer  of  the  field  to  confine  the  evil  influence  and  then  remove 
one  to  let  out  the  influence  which  the  texts  have  incommoded. 
Or,  he  will  pay  a  man  of  a  certain  caste  to  plough  a  line  across 
the  field  at  night,  the  man  having  to  be  stark  naked.  In  some 
pwts  locusts  are  believed  to  be  the  incarnation  of  a  particular 
deity  and  for  each  one  killed  a  hundred  will  come;  it  is  quite 
likely  that  this  has  occurred,  of  which  a  few  were  killed  being 
followed  later  by  a  much  larger  swarm,  but  where  we  see  no 
connection,  he  sees  a  definite  sequence  of  events.  A  case  came 
up  where  a  man  freed  his  rice  field  of  a  pest  by  a  simple  mechan- 
ical method;  his  crop  benefited  but  soon  after  his  cow  died, 
and  to  that  village  the  one  was  a  consequence  of  the  other.  It 
is  difficult  for  entomologists  in  countries  such  as  ours  to  realize 
the  almost  impossible  task  of  overcoming  such  long  inherited 
and  deeply  ingrainod  instincts  and  religious  beliefs.  These 
facts  should  be  borne  in  mind  in  studying  the  methods  employed. 
The  use  of  insecticides  is  naturally  enormously  restricted  as  also 
is  the  employment  of  any  but  the  simplest  of  mechanical 
devices.  Largely  for  these  reasons  we  find  the  necessity  of 
resorting  to  such  methods  as  the  use  of  bait  traps  for  moths 
and  hand  picking,  the  latter  being  rendered  possible  by  the 
cheapness  of  the  labor. 

The  losses  from  insects  in  so  large  a  country  are  naturally 
great  and  in  many  instances  the  failure  to  grow  staple  crops  in 
certain  regions  is  undoubtedly  due  to  an  inherited  tradition, 
resulting  from  uncontrolled  insect  outbreaks,  that  such  crops 
cannot  be  grown.  An  outbreak  of  the  cotton  boll  worm  in  the 
Punjab  and  Sind  in  1906-07  caused  a  loss  of  about  2,000,000 
pounds  sterling.  In  the  locust  campaign  of  1903-04,  14,000 
pounds  sterling  was  spent  in  destroying  these  insects  in  one 
province.  The  great  Kirman  Desert  of  Persia  constitutes  the 
chief  central  breeding  place  for  the  parent  flights  of  5.  pereg- 
rinum,  entering  India  from  the  northwest. 

In  ord'jr  to  understand  the  organization  of  the  work  in 
applied  entomology  it  is  necessary  to  know  the  system  of 
government.  The  government  of  India  is  the  supreme  authority, 


28 


Annah  Entomclotical  Society  itf  Amtrica     (Vol.  IX, 


the  provinces  into  which  the  country  is  divided  being  under 
provincial  departments  such  as  Madras,  Bombay,  Central 
Province,  Bengal,  etc.  The  Imperial  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture conducts  investigations  and  advises  and  directs  the  work 
of  the  provincial  departments.  The  latter  largely  carry  into 
effect  the  recommendations  of  the  Imperial  experts  as  they  do 
not  all  employ  experts  of  their  own,  although  a  number  of  them 
now  have  native  or  European  entomologists  attached  to  their 
agricultural  staffs. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Imperial  Entomologist  are  at  the 
Imperial  Research  Laboratories  at  Pusa.  Mr.  T.  Bainbrigge 
Fletcher  is  Imperial  Entomologist  and  Mr.  T.  M.  Howlett  has 
chiirge  of  the  worV  in  medical  and  veterinary  entomology.  In 
addition  to  English  assistants  there  is  an  excellent  native  staff. 
The  scope  of  the  work  includes  the  investigation  of  the  life 
histories  and  bionomics  of  insect  pests  and  the  most  practicable 
methods  of  control  under  local  conditions  and  experimental 
work  with  insecticides. 

An  important  section  of  the  entomological  work  has  reference- 
to  useful  or  productive  insects  particularly  sericulture  and  the- 
production  of  lac.  These  constitute  important  industries  in 
certain  s^tions  of  India.  For  example,  about  three  million 
pounds  worth  of  lac  is  produced  annually  and:  whenas  at 
present  it  is  mainly  a  forest  product,  collected'  wild  in  the 
jungles,  the  entomologists  have  shown  how  it  can  be  ptodttced. 
more  cheaply  by  proper  cultivation  on  trees  fpnwino  Jn  pastures 
and  wajite  lands  in  agricultural  tracts.  Prof.  Lefroy's  work  on 
Eri  silU,  t'^xluced  by  AUacus  ricini  of  Assam,,  fumidied  ai 
mear.s  whereby  a  new  silk  industry  taigjiit  be- built  up  in  certwa 
localities  in  India. 

Among  the  more  important  pests  the  following  may  b» 
mentioned : 

In  certain  regions  swarms  of  hairy  caterpiUars,  t*e  larve 
of  Arctiid  moths,  appear  regtdhr';-  after  t*je  first  rain  and  causb 
great  loss  ia  grass  lands,  etc.  it  has  been  found  that  these 
insects  can  be  largely  controlled>  by  capturing^  the  adtalt  moths 
in  bait  traps  of  the  Andles-Maire-  pattern.  In  one  region 
in  Bengal  about  lOiOOO  acres  of  Tal  land  was  destroyed 
annually  for  fifteen  years  by  caterpillars  of  Agretis.  ypaibm. 
Xt  was  fotmd  that  hand  picking  of  the  larva  and  captuse  of  the 


1910] 


Enhmohty  in  lit  British  Empirt 


mothi  by  bait  tnpi  conitituted  the  best  control  meuuiet.  In 
tiw  bait  trap!  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  moths  were  unfertilized 
females.  Serious  damage  to  the  rice  crop  is  caused  by  the 
rice  grasshopper  {Hierotlypkus  furdfer).  For  the  control  of 
this  insect  ioarse  bags  are  used,  the  bags  being  kept  open  by 
two  bamboos  as  they  are  drawn  through  the  rice  which  of 
course  is  grown  in  water;  two  beaters  go  before  the  bag  and 
drive  the  grasshoppers  towards  or  with  it.  Cotton  is  attacked 
by  two  boll-wonns  and  a  Gelechia;  the  boU-worm  is  a  serious 
bar  to  the  growth  in  India  of  any  but  the  short  stapled  cottons 
which  mature  rapidly  and  offer  little  scope  for  boU-worm 
injury.  In  the  control  of  the  boll-worm  in  the  Punjab,  success 
appears  to  have  attended  the  use  of  parasites. 

The  immense  loss  of  life  due  to  insect-borne  diseases,  espe- 
cially to  malaria  in  India  is  well  known  and  the  importance  of 
the  work  carried  out  by  Mr.  Howlett  in  conjunction  with  the 
Imperial  Medical  and  Veterinary  Departments  needs  no 
emphasizing.  Entomologists  and  medical  men  in  India  have  had 
no  small  share  in  the  advancement  of  our  knowledge  of  medical 
entomology  from  the  time  when  Ross  carried  out  his  crucial 
investigations  up  to  the  present  time  and  the  standard  and 
scope  of  the  work  in  India  is  steadily  increasing  year  by  year 
through  the  labors  of  men  such  as  Dr.  W.  S.  Patton,  F.  W. 
Cragg  and  others. 

The  condition  of  India  in  regard  to  that  problem,  which  is 
of  such  vital  concern  to  more  temperate  regions  and  regions  in 
which  agricultural  development  is  taking  place,  such  as  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  namely,  the  introduction  and  estab- 
lishment of  foreign  insect  pests  is  peculiar  and  full  of  interest 
from  a  biological  standpoint.  The  fact  that  India  has  not 
taken  in  years  past  any  special  steps  to  prevent  the  introduction 
of  insect  pests  may  appear  strange  to  the  minds  of  many 
accustomed  to  the  necessity  of  such  measures.  The  omission  is 
not  due  to  a  failure  to  appreciate  the  importance  of  foreign 
pests,  but  to  a  distinct  failure  on  the  part  of  foreign  pests  to 
become  acclimatised  to  Indian  conditions.  India  appears  to  be 
protected  far  more  effectively,  and  a'  -insiderably  less  cost, 
against  foreign  insect  pests  by  her  clima„e  and  topographical 
features.  It  is  an  isolated  country  bounded  on  the  north  by  a 
vast  non-agricultural  territory  from  which  it  is  separated  by  a 


f 


so 


Annalt  Enlomehtical  Society  if  Amtrica    (Vol.  IX, 


formidable  mountain  barrier.  Prof.  Lefroy  informi  ui  that  in 
India  fierce  dry  heat  ia  the  iniect'i  enemy  and  the  grcattst 
check  on  insect  life  is  that  period  before  the  rains  when  all  is 
parched  and  very  hot.  These  are  powerful  adverse  factors  to 
roost  foreign  insects,  although  some,  such  as  the  cabbage  white 
(Pirns  bnutiea)  and  the  wheat  aphis  (ToxopUra  fraim'iiiim) 
have  adapted  themselves  in  different  ways  to  the  climatic 
conditions.  A  statement  which  Prof.  Lefroy  has  given  of  the 
relative  proportions  of  native  and  introduced  insects  indicates 
very  clearly  the  evident  check  on  ;  he  ability  of  foreign  insects 
to  become  acclimatised  to  India.  Of  the  crop  pests,  exclusive 
of  scale  insects  and  mealy  bugs,  out  of  213  species  injurious  in 
some  degree,  two  moths  and  six  aphides  are  possible  intro- 
ductions. Out  of  109  scale  insects,  24  are  probably  introduced 
and  of  the  most  injurious  ones,  eleven  out  of  the  fourteen,  are 
introduced;  the  introduced  scale  insects  are  comparatively 
harmless  as  a  rule  in  India.  These  facts  afford  an  interesting 
contrast  to  our  experience  in  North  America. 

New  Zealand. 

The  chief  agricultural  industry  in  New  Zealand  has  been 
sheep  farming.  But  with  development  along  other  lines,  par- 
ticularly in  horticulture,  the  country  has  suffered  the  fate  of 
all  new  countries  dependent  upon  the  importation  of  plants 
from  foreign  countries,  and  foreign  pests  have  been  introduced. 
At  first  these  pests  were  not  subjected  to  the  methods  that  a 
later  developed  intensive  system  of  agriculture  involves  and 
consequently  they  made  some  headway. 

While  the  entomological  work  of  the  government  is  largely 
undertaken  by  the  Government  Biologist,  Prof.  T.  W.  Kirk, 
the  question  of  the  control  of  insect  pests  is  also  dealt  with  by  the 
Fields  and  Experimental  Farms  Division  and  by  the  Orchards, 
Garden  and  Apiaries  Division.  The  latter  Division  administers 
the  inspection  laws,  involving  the  fumigation  and  inspection  of 
imported  fruits  and  plants  and  the  spreading  of  useful  insects. 
The  Biological  Section  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  inves- 
tigates, so  far  as  its  other  duties  permit,  injurious  insects  in 
addition  to  conducting  general  identification  work. 


1016) 


Eniomelety  in  the  Britiik  Etnpirt 


SI 


British  West  Indies. 

In  1898  the  Imperial  Department  of  Agriculture  for  the 
Weat  Indies  wai  eatabliihed  with  headquarters  at  Barbados  for 
the  purpose  of  rendering  assistance  in  agricultural  matters 
throughout  the  British  West  Indies,  including  British  Guiana, 
Trinidad,  Jamaica,  British  Honduras,  Bahamas,  Bermuda, 
Barbados,  the  Windward  Islands  and  the  Leeward  Islands. 
It  is  principally  concerned,  however,  with  the  smaller  islands, 
namely,  those  of  the  Windward  and  Leeward  groups  and  Bar- 
bados. As  the  larger  colonies  British  Guiana,  Trinidad  end 
Jamaica  have  organized  departments  of  agriculture  and  being  in 
a  more  prosperous  condition,  it  is  the  function  of  the  Imperial 
Department  to  advise  the  Government  of  these  colonies.  In  the 
case  of  British  Honduras,  Bahamas  and  Bermuda,  advice  by 
correspondence  is  fully  available. 

Mr.  H.  A.  Ballou  succeeded  Mr.  H.  M.  Lefroy  in  1903  as 
Entomologist  on  the  staff  of  the  Imperial  Department  and  he 
carries  on  his  work  under  the  direction  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture,  Dr.  Francis  Watts.  In  addition  to  the  entomo- 
logical work  conducted  by  the  Imperial  Department,  certain  of 
the  West  Indian  colonies  maintain  entomologists  or  combine 
the  work  with  that  on  plant  diseases.  Mr.  F.  W.  Urich  is  Ento- 
mologist to  the  Board  of  Agriculture  for  Trinidad  and  Tobago; 
Mr.  G.  E.  Bodkin,  as  Economic  Entomologist  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Science  and  Agriculture  of  British  Guiana,  is  responsible 
for  the  entomological  work  in  that  colony.  Mr.  A.  H.  Ritchie 
was  appointed  about  a  year  ago  as  Entomologist  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  for  Jamaica.  In  Barbados  the  entomo- 
logical work  of  the  island  is  carried  on  by  Mr.  ].  S.  Dash,  the 
Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  local  Department  of  Agriculture, 
for  although  the  Imperial  Department  of  Agriculture  has  its 
headquarters  in  Barbados  it  has  no  direct  connection  with  the 
agriculture  of  the  colony. 

The  Entomologist  of  the  Imperial  Department  of  Agriculture 
Mr.  Ballou,  is  directly  concerned  with  the  insect  problems  of  the 
Windward  Islands  (Grenada,  St.  Vincent  and  St.  Lucia)  and 
the  Leeward  Islands  (Dominica,  Montserrat,  Antigua,  St. 
Kitts-Nevis  and  the  Virgin  Islands).  He  has  a  laboratory  in  the 
departmental  building  and  on  each  island  facilities  for  field 
work  are  provided  by  the  local  agricultural  departments,  each 


AmnaU  EnlomcUtUal  Sueiily  aj  AnuHea    (Vol.  IX, 


cl  which  ha*  a  botanic  garden  or  experiment  itaticn,  and  lh« 
oAcen  in  charge  of  theie  gardens  or  itationi  auiti  in  the  local 
entomdogical  work. 

The  chief  liniw  of  entomological  inveitiagtion  are  auodated 
with  the  principal  cropt  grown  on  the  iilandt,  namely,  iugar 
cane,  cotton,  cacao,  limei  and  cocoanuti.  A  large  number  of 
new  cropt  are  being  tried  and  thet  will  naturally  introduce  new 
liuet  of  entomological  inquiry,  liie  islandi  have  suffered  the 
fate  of  all  new  regions  into  which  new  crops  have  been  intro- 
duced. The  crop*  grown  at  present  are  praccically  the  same 
ai  they  were  ten  years  ago,  the  principal  difference  being  the 
standing  of  the  cotton  industry  which  was  then  in  an  experi- 
mental stage.  Now  it  has  been  established  as  a  profitable 
industry  and  as  a  result  of  the  rapid  increase  in  the  acreage  of 
cotton,  insects  which  previously  were  not  recognized  as  pests, 
and  in  some  cases  were  unknown  to  science,  have  assumed  an 
important  role  as  serious  pests.  For  example,  the  flower-bud 
maggot  of  cotton  (Contarinia  gossypii  Felt)  first  made  its 
appearance  in  Antigua  in  1907;  the  leaf  blister  mite  Eriophyes 
tfusypii  Banks,  first  occurred  as  a  pest  of  cultivated  cotton  in 
Montserrat  in  1903  and  soon  afterwards  was  found  in  all  the 
other  islands  of  the  Leeward  and  Windward  groups.  The  black 
scale  (Saissetia  nigra  Nietn.)  was  formerly  a  serious  pest  of 
cotton,  but  at  present  it  attracts  little  attention  owing  to  the 
control  brought  about  by  the  parasite  (Zalopholhrix  miruM) 
which  was  first  reared  in  1907.  Important  injuries  are  caused 
by  certain  hemipterous  cotton  stainers  of  the  genus  Dysdercus, 
and  a  serious  internal  boll  disease  or  rot  now  under  investiga- 
tion, occurring  in  certain  islands  appears  to  be  associated  with 
the  attacks  of  these  cotton  stainers. 

One  of  the  most  serious  classes  of  injurious  insects  occurring 
in  the  West  Indies,  particularly  in  fields  of  sugar  cane  and  com 
(maize),  are  the  Melolonthid  larva  known  as  white  grubs  on 
this  Continent;  these  insects  are  popularly  known  as  hard 
backs  on  the  islands,  the  chief  species  being  Ligyrus  tumuhsus. 
On  certain  of  the  islands  recent  investigation  has  shown  that  a 
noticeable  control  is  exercised  by  several  insect  parasites  of  these 
larvte.  Among  the  control  measures  recommended  are  the 
planting  of  trap  crops  and  hand  picking  the  larvte  which 
measure  cheap  juvenile  labor  renders  possible.    Lepidopterous 


1918] 


Enlcmolcty  in  tkt  Brilith  Empire 


S3 


and  rhyncophorout  boren,  pitrticuUrly  auch  root  borer*  ai 
Diaprepti  ahbrttialus  L.  and  Exophlkalmut  eturiens  are  lerioui 
peiU  of  lugar  cane.    Termitei  are  also  injurioui  to  lugar  cane. 

Citrui  treei  in  the  Weit  Indie*  have  their  full  *hare  of  icale 
in*ect(,  the  purple  acale  (Upidotapkei  htckii  Newm.)  being  the 
moit  important.  A  conriderable  degree  of  control  i*  exerdied 
over  thi*  and  other  *cale  iniect*  by  certain  entomophagou* 
fungi.  The  red-headed  fungu*  (Spharoslilbe  coccophUa)  and  the 
white  headed  fungut  lOphUmKlria  coccicola)  attack  the  purple 
*cale,  the  former  fungua  also  attacks  the  white  fly  (Aleyrodes 
cUri  R.  and  H.)  The  green  *cale  (Coccus  viridis  Green)  is  con- 
trolled to  a  markrd  degree  by  the  shield  scale  fungua  (Cepkalo- 
iporium  lecanii).  In  Trinidad  the  fungus  Melarrhitium  ani- 
sopla  has  been  artificially  cultivated  and  used  with  a  view  to 
controlling  frog-hoppera  attacking  sugar  cane. 

Naturally  every  effort  is  made  to  prevent  the  introduction 
of  foreign  pests  into  the  islands  by  quarantine  regulations.  The 
regulations  of  the  various  plant  quarantine  acts  are  carried  out 
by  the  local  agricultural  officers  in  the  varioua  islands;  these 
officers  are  required  to  inspect  plant  imports  and  to  arrange  for 
the  necessary  fumigation  and  other  prescribed  treatment. 

Much  of  the  entomologist's  time  is  occupied  in  traveling, 
owing  to  the  geographical  situation  of  the  islands  of  the  Lesser 
Antilles  and  the  difficulties  of  steamboat  travel  which  result  in 
an  unfortunate  loss  of  time.  Nevertheless,  the  pages  of  the 
Wtst  Indian  BulUlin,  the  quarterly  journal  of  the  Imperial 
Department  of  Agriculture  and  its  fortnightly  publication,  The 
AtricuUural  Nevis,  and  the  pamphlets  that  have  been  issued 
dealing  with  the  insect  pests  of  various  crops  bear  witness  to  the 
excellent  work  that  is  accomplished  by  the  Entomologist  in 
spite  of  the  difficulties  with  which  he  has  to  contend.  And  the 
same  may  be  said  of  those  who  are  responsible  for  entomological 
work  in  the  individual  West  Indian  colonies  that  I  have 
mentioned. 


Other  Imperial  Entomouxsical  Work. 

Space  forbids  an  individual  treatment  of  the  entomological 
work  that  is  being  carried  out  in  scattered  units  of  the  British 
Empire  to  which  reference  has  not  been  made.  In  many  of 
these  places  the  investigations  that  are  being  conducted  relate 


34 


Annals  Entomological  Society  of  America     [Vol.  IX, 


chiefly  to  insects  and  ticks  concerned  in  the  transmission  of 
disease  such  as  those  of  Dr.  W.  M.  Aders  on  ticks  in  Zanzibar. 
In  the  Seychelles  entomological  observations  are  being  made  by 
Mr.  P.  R.  Dupont,  the  Curator  of  the  Botarii  :'  Station;  in  the 
Federated  Malay  States  Mr.  C.  Strickla.  J  is  studying  ::osqui- 
toes  and  malaria,  and  other  entomologies  work,  particjlarly  on 
locusts,  is  also  being  carried  on  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Holmaa  i  unt  and 
Mr.  P.  B.  Richards.  M.  D'Emmerez  de  Ci.ur::-._.ny  is  paying 
attention  to  the  insects  of  Mauritius,  and  in  Cyprus  the  ento- 
mological work  is  conducted  by  Mr.  Z.  G.  Solomides,  who  is 
called  upon  to  deal  with  the  locust  plagues  to  which  this  island 
is  subject. 


r 


The  Annals  op  thb  Entomological  Socistt  o* 
America,  poblished  quarterly,  March,  June,  September  and 
December. 


;V-t 


The  regular  annual  subactiption  price  for  the  AiiXAts  ia.  in  the 
United  States,  Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  Rkwaii  and  Mexico,  $3.00; 
Canada;  $3.50 ;  other  countries,  $4.00.  Ctaeclos,  drafts  or  money 
orders  e  bould  be  drawn  payable  to  Annau  Entomolooicai.  socitor 
OF  Ahb'  ica,  and  addressed  to  Hekbbkt  Osbokk,  Uui^^;iiig  Sditor, 
State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio,  U.  S.  A."  ' ,,  ,'  ' 


;-^fVt!.::;.j'-.rf,  ,*, /j;.'..r 


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